Obituary of Walter Lyons Brown

Walter Lyons Brown, 93, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2017 at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge, NJ. Walter was born on October 11, 1924 in Charlottesville, VA, the son of Frederick and Maude Brown. Walter was actively involved in Boy Scouts, earning the rank of "Eagle Scout." He graduated from Duke University in 1945 with a BS in Physics before spending several years as an Ensign in the Navy. Walter went on to earn his PhD in Physics from Harvard University in 1951. A testament to his dedication to the field, Walter worked for Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ for 51 years, during which he was honored with the Von Hipple Award for his work as a research physicist. Because retiring was not in Walter's vocabulary, he joined Lehigh University as an Adjunct Professor and remained active in mentoring students. Though education and work were important to Walter, his family and relationship with God were even more important. He married Lucie Mae Oakes in 1946, and they were married for 71 loving years. Walter and Lucie were proud parents of their four children – Stephen, Stuart, Virginia, and Keith. They enjoyed cross-country road trips when the children were young and continued to visit friends and family over the years. Walter shared his love of education by teaching Sunday School for over 40 years. He also served God at Liberty Corner Presbyterian by repairing homes on the annual youth mission trip and helping design solar panels for use in Malawi. Walter was predeceased in death by his sister, Margaret Conger. He is survived by his wife, Lucie, and their four children and spouses – Stephen and Michelle Brown, Stuart and Peggy Brown, Virginia and Donald Mayer-Brown, and Keith and Natalie Brown, as well as nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren – Amy and Ken Nelson (Eliza, Martin, Caleb, and Kenna), Rachel and Adam Morehouse (Elena and Silas), David and Renee Brown (Naomi and Chloe), Sarah Mayer-Brown, Elizabeth Mayer-Brown, Julissa Brown, Katarina Brown, Adrienne Poirier, and Kathryn Poirier. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, November 17, 2017 from 4-7pm at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home in Basking Ridge, NJ. A memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church (http://libertycorner.org/give) or Fellowship Village (http://fellowshipseniorliving.org/donate-online).