Wilbur Brown

Wilbur J. Brown, 80, of Atwood, died Wednesday, April 9, 2014. He was born July 8, 1933 to Franklin and Elva (Parker) Brown on the family farm south of Atwood. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1952 and served in the U.S. Army from July 1953 to May 1955, where he spent a portion of his time in Germany as a welder. He then returned home to assume operations of the family farm due to his father’s health conditions. On June 7, 1959, Wilbur married Kay Fossett, daughter of the late Relda and Pleasant Fossett. This marriage resulted in three sons, Wilbur Jr., Clifford and Randy. Wilbur and Kay continued farming until 1970, following a few years of below normal rainfall. Wilbur moved his family near Greeley, CO, where he worked at various locations, including a dairy, feedlot and as a concrete truck driver. In 1975 they returned to the family farm south of Atwood. He farmed and worked at the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) offices in Colby and Atwood for twenty years. Upon his retirement from KDOT he worked as a school bus driver for the Atwood School District for five years. He also acquired an open range mare and colt and several miniature horses. His horses and bus driving experience brought enormous joy to Wilbur and he often entertained Atwood Grade School children with his horses at the farm. His school bus experience and farming operations tragically ended when he was diagnosed with macular degeneration, causing him to lose the center field of his vision. He was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and his health deteriorated until his death at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood, under the care of Hospice.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Earl Brown, Elias Brown, Alice (Brown) Nelson, James Brown and Elva Brown; son Randy Brown and daughter-in-law Rosana Brown.

Wilbur is survived by his wife, Kay; sons, Wilbur Brown Jr., Atwood, Clifford (Susan) Brown, Pueblo, CO; grandsons, Justin (Iowa), Kristofer (Nevada), Jeffrey (Arkansas) and Brian (Arkansas).

Visitation will be 4-7:00 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 12, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, Atwood. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Rawlins County Health Center or Hospice at the Good Samaritan Center in care of Baalmann Mortuary, 109 N. 2nd St, Atwood, KS 67730. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com