Robert Cornell "Bob" Brown was born August 22, 1932, and passed into eternal life on May 31, 2024.

Bob was known as Robert to some, Bob to many, Bobby to family, and Daddat to his grandchildren. He was born in Brownsville, Texas, at Mercy Hospital to Egbert Nurton Brown and Marguerite Florence Levis Brown. He was raised in San Benito, Texas, spent a brief part of his childhood in Marfa, and graduated from San Benito High School in 1950. He attended Texas Southmost College and St. Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota. Following those first two years of college he joined the United States Army, serving in Virginia and Germany. After his tour of duty he completed his education at The University of Texas at Austin, earning a BA in Journalism and English in 1958.

Bob started his career at the Texas Highway Department, where he spent seven years. He devoted the next 25 years to the Texas Association of Realtors (TAR) as editor of Texas Realtor magazine and then as Communications Director. After TAR, he worked for the Texas Lottery Commission until retiring in 1997.

While at TAR, he met Joanne Weddell. Bob and Joanne married in 1970 at St. Austin Catholic Church. Thus began their 53 years together; raising their daughter, volunteering, and traveling the world.

Bob was involved in various volunteer groups throughout his life including many years with St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Austin Catholic Church, St. Austin Catholic School Parents Club president, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, CARITAS, as well as serving on the Board of Lifetime Learning Institute.

Bob was a voracious reader, always starting his day with the Austin American-Statesman, reading it cover to cover until the day before his passing. He was constantly surrounded by stacks of books, usually with two or three in rotation at the same time. He was especially interested in history, particularly genealogy. He worked diligently over his lifetime researching the history of his ancestors, tracing some of his lineage back to the original French voyagers in North America and earlier. He was especially proud of the fact that he was a "tiny part" Native American. Bob was an avid art collector, lover of antiques, gardener, and flower and plant enthusiast. But most important to Bob was his family.

Bob is survived by his wife Joanne Brown; daughter Julianne King and husband Mark; granddaughter Grayson Wooton and husband Ty; grandson Sutton King; and great granddaughter Tate Wooton; sisters-in-law Mary Alice Brown and Gloria Brown; nieces and nephews, Eric Brown and wife Erika, Ellen Jatinen and husband Andrew, Patricia Nuhn and husband David, Jamie Brown and wife Deanne, Cathy Brennan and husband Andy, Michael Brown and wife Regina, Beth Nutting and husband Chris Porter, Donna Dalton and husband Preston, and Charles Brack; and countless great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers James (Jimmy) Timon Brown, John Levis (JL) Brown and sister Elizabeth Clare (Betty) Brack, and nephew Danny Brack.

Memorials may be made to St. Louise House ( saintlouisehouse.org ) or the St. Austin Catholic Church St. Vincent De Paul Society ( staustin.org/give )