Rufus L. ( R. L. ) Brown

Rufus Linwood Brown, (R.L.) 75, of Rocky Mount, passed away January 25, 2011, at his home. He was born on December 19, 1935, in Roanoke County, son of the late Clarence and Bessie Collins Brown. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Carl Bernice Brown. He is survived by his wife (Babe) of 54 years, LaVerne Argabright Brown; sons and daughters-in-law, Michael Lynn and Kelly Brown of Greer, SC, and Kenneth Ray and Kristie Brown of Vinton; one granddaughter, Cassie; and three grandsons, Stephen, Wesley and Aidan; brother and sister-in-law Claude and Vicki Brown, Hardy; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Charlie and Loulie Belle Argabright, Roanoke; and sister-in-law Gloria Poage, Smyrna, GA. Rufus accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior as a teenager and after a few bumps in the road has gone home. He served in the U. S. Air Force from 1958-1962. In his spare time he loved being a pilot of General Aviation aircraft for many years. He was a self-made businessman, having managed paint and body car shops until he opened his own, R. L. Brown, Inc., in Statesman Industrial Park, Roanoke. After retirement from his shop, he traveled as a sales rep for Jones Performance Products for a few years. In the remaining of his retirement, he loved working on small engines as a way to stay busy and to enjoy friends. He was a member of Sandy Ridge Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, VA. The family has asked for no flowers because of allergies. Donations can be made to the building program of Sandy Ridge Baptist Church 1444 Bonbrook Mill Rd. Rocky Mount, Va. 24151 ; to Poages Mill Church of the Brethren 6550 Bent Mountain Rd. SW Roanoke, Va. 24018 or charity of choice. The family would like to thank Dr. Mark Schmidt for his caring ways and Dr. Fintel for guiding us thru. Thanks also to Good Samaritan Hospice. Graveside services will be conducted from Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 28, 2011 with Rev. Joe Dillon & Rev. Maurice Wright officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Conner-Bowman Funeral Home and Crematory, Route 220 @ Wirtz Road, Rocky Mountwww.connerbowman.com540-334-5151