Brown, F. Wallace 'Wally'

F. Wallace “Wally” Brown of Cedar Rapids died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital. Memorial services, with military rites: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. The Rev. Dr. Jerry Springston will officiate. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. Wally's body was donated to the University of Iowa for research.

Survivors include his wife, Delores; daughters, Christine (Dennis) Glover of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Colette (Denny) Molumby of Cedar Rapids; and grandchildren, Kay Jandik of Iowa City, Ken (Amber) Jandik of Fort Myers, Fla., Dan Molumby of Marion and Justin Molumby of DeWitt. Also surviving are a stepson, Jim (Sherrie) Thurston of Anamosa; two stepgranddaughters, Sarah (Ryan) Geiter of Olathe, Kan., and Jennifer Thurston of Des Moines; two nieces and three nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Frances Lockwood; and brothers, Harry Jr. and Richard.

Wally was born March 12, 1931, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Harry and Carrie Lewis Brown Sr. He graduated from McKinley Senior High School in January 1949, and in November 1950, he married Joan Elliot. They were later divorced. In June 1991, he married Delores Thurston. Wally served in the U.S. Air Force in the 133rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron during the Korean War. He was employed by Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric Co. (now Mid-American Energy Co.) for 43 years until his retirement in 1993.

Wally served in various civic organizations and was a past president of the Downtown Kiwanis Club. He was an avid fisherman and golfer and was a past president of the Ellis Golf Association. Wally was active in model aviation as a child and continued that interest into retirement years. He built and flew radio-controlled model aircraft and was a member of the Cedar Rapids Skyhawks. Wally played stringed bass in the Lee Williams Orchestra out of Omaha, Neb., the Jimmie Adams Band and Eddie Snell Band. He also played bass in local area bands in his early years and enjoyed listening to Big Band and jazz music.

Memorial donations may be given to the American Cancer Society or American Heart Association in Wally's name.

Please leave a message or tribute to the Brown family on the Web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.

Published Sept. 6, 2013 in The Gazette