Henry Thomas Brown Sr.

RANTOUL - Henry Thomas Brown Sr., of Rantoul, Champaign County, Illinois passed away on September 24, 2017 at his home. Henry Brown Sr. was born on March 22, 1928 in Anadarko, Caddo County, Oklahoma to the late Clarence Lester Brown and Mamie Celia, nee King, Brown. Henry Brown Sr. was the third of ten children born to Clarence Lester Brown and Mamie Celia, nee King, Brown. Henry Brown Sr. was in the Air Force from June 23, 1948 until June 23, 1952. Henry Sr. was supposed to serve three years in the Air Force, but he was extended for one more year because the Korean War was starting up. Henry Sr. entered Air Force boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and after boot camp one of the places that Henry Sr. was stationed at was Ladd Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska and then his final posting was at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. Henry Sr. worked as a Supply Clerk while he was in the Air Force. While Henry Sr. was stationed at Chanute Air Force base in Rantoul, Illinois he met his future wife Lyllian Coriene McManaway of Champaign, Illinois. Henry Brown Sr. and Lyllian McManaway were married on December 28, 1952 in Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi. After getting out of the Air Force in 1952, Henry Sr. worked at Eisner's Food Warehouse in Champaign, Illinois until his retirement on October 31, 1986. Henry Brown Sr. loved to play the fiddle, putting out a garden in his back yard each year, and working crossword puzzles. Henry Brown Sr.'s first wife, Lyllian, passed away on September 23, 1981 and she is buried in East Lawn Cemetery in Urbana, Illinois. On January 3, 1986, Henry Sr. married for the second time to Nella, nee Williamson, Zecca. Nella Brown passed away on February 20, 1995 and she is buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Rantoul, Illinois. On July 11, 1998, Henry Sr. married for the third and final time to Alice Arline, nee Spain, Miller. Alice, nee Spain, Miller-Brown passed away on March 20, 2016 and she is buried in Potomac Cemetery, Potomac, Illinois. Henry Sr. was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Mamie Brown; five brothers, John Martin Brown, Frank Lester Brown, Joe Richard Brown, Clarence Nathaniel Brown, and Quentin Jarrel Brown; a son, Gregory Eugene Brown; and a great, great grandson Kamden Blanchard. Henry Sr. is survived by his children; Carol A., nee Brown, (Tony) Myers, Henry T. Brown Jr., Deborah K. Brown, Jeffery D. Brown, David (Cathy) W. Brown, Becky L. Brown, Brian M. Brown, Betty (Rich) S., nee Brown, Dawkins, and Lorra L., nee Brown, Stenger, 12 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and 3 great, great grandchildren. A celebration of Henry Sr.'s life will be held at 1pm on Thursday September 28, 2017 at Sunset Funeral Home, 710 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL. Visitation will be held prior from 11am-1pm at the funeral home. Graveside committal with military honors will be held at East Lawn Cemetery in Urbana. Henry Sr. will be buried next to his first wife, Lyllian. Please join Henry Sr.'s family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Visitation Sep 28, 2017 Thursday, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center Champaign-Urbana Chapel 710 N. Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 Service Sep 28, 2017 Thursday, 1:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center Champaign-Urbana Chapel 710 N. Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 Final Resting Place East Lawn Burial Park 800 N Cunningham Avenue Urbana, IL 61802