John Alston Brown, 78, of Bellevue, Nebraska, passed away on November 10, 2022.
John was born on May 14, 1944, in Meridian, Mississippi, to John Wheeler and Brownie Waggoner Brown of Enterprise, MS. He attended the University of Mississippi where he received a BA in history and political science and MA in international relations, was commissioned in the United States Air Force and served for 26 years, attaining the rank of colonel. He then served in civil service for over ten years in the Department of Defense office charged with obtaining the fullest possible accounting of missing and unaccounted for servicemen and women. Upon his retirement in 1993, he returned to Enterprise and farmed, managed Clarke County Airport, and was very active in Enterprise United Methodist Church.
His interests included Ole Miss football, general aviation, sailing, agriculture, and music. "Hotty Toddy" was never very far from his mind; he attended Ole Miss on a music scholarship and played bass in the University's marching and concert bands. He was a certified flight instructor and sailed a variety of small boats on the Chesapeake Bay and the Caribbean. He and friends circumnavigated the Delmarva Peninsula and frequently anchored overnight during weekend trips around the Bay.
John is survived by his wife, Fairy Austin Brown, two children, Virginia Linn Powell and her husband Andrew, and Michael Allan Brown; two grandchildren, Ellen Austin Powell Taylor and her husband Aaron Taylor, and Duncan Jack Powell; and one great granddaughter, Mia Catherine Taylor; one nephew, George Scott Etheridge, one niece, Gretchen Denise McDonald; cousins, Merideth Susan Simms, Aimee Adine Harris Mendel, and John Bernard Harris; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Wheeler and Brownie Waggoner Brown; sisters, Patricia Brown Etheridge and Linda Brown; an aunt, Annie Brown Joyner; and cousin, James Gordon Harris and his wife Judy.
A memorial service will be held at a future time. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's name may be made to the Enterprise United Methodist Church.
