Bud was born in Lincoln, NE on July 17, 1930 to the late Leroy James and Helen Louis Brown. Bud ran away to the horse races when he was only 13, but later received his GED. He attended college classes while in the Army and at Odessa College. He married Mary Elizabeth Conradt on May 3, 1952 in Beatrice, NE. They were married for 62 years, until Mary's death on October 6, 2014. Bud married Jane Faber on September 30, 2017 in Durham, NC. They were happily married for 4 years.

Bud enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17, in 1947. He served almost 3 years in Korea and Japan in the 7th Infantry. From 1954 to 1966, Bud served in various assignments while steadily moving up the ranks from Private to Sergeant, to 1st Sergeant, to Sergeant Major in Fort Riley, KS, Fort Leonard Wood, MO and St. Cloud, MN. Bud was promoted to Captain in 1966. He served in Vietnam for almost 1 full year with the 47th Infantry, 9th Division. During the Tet Offensive in January 1968, Captain Brown and his convoy delivered much needed fuel and ammunition to rifle companies in Bien Hoa City, which was still burning under enemy attack. Bud retired from the Army in 1968. His military awards include: Purple Heart and two Army commendation medals. He has been nominated to receive the designation of Distinguished Member of the 47th Infantry Regiment from the Department of the Army in April of 2022.

He worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office in Norfolk, NE. He and his family moved to Odessa, TX in 1971 where Bud instructed Army Junior ROTC at Odessa High and Permian High from 1971 to 1984. He worked for the U.S. Post Office again in Odessa, TX until retirement in 1998.

Bud was active in both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He loved HORSES! and the race track. At the Three Mile Farm in Odessa, TX, he and Mary raised thoroughbreds and quarter horses, cows, pigs, dogs and barn cats. His horses raced in NM, TX, LA and Mexico. He enjoyed pheasant hunting in NE and even dabbled in gold prospecting and coin collecting. After his final retirement, he became a wonderful cook and cake baker. He and Mary hosted Sunday dinner for the family every single Sunday, until Mary's death in 2014. He moved to Pittsboro, NC with Jim and his wife, Stephanie in 2015. He met Jane Faber at dance classes at the Senior Citizens Club and they married September 30, 2017. Bud recently told Jim that he had lived a wonderful life and loved two wonderful women. He adored all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was always excited to attend baseball games, golf tournaments, swim meets and other activities. He was a life long fan of Nebraska Football!

Bud is survived by his wife Jane Faber of Durham, NC; son James Lee Brown, wife Stephanie of Pittsboro, NC; step-son Bob Faber, wife Elizabeth of Singapore; Step-daughter Sarah Cameron of Durham, NC; grandsons Christopher Brown, wife Meredith of Durham, NC; Chris Clark, wife Mandy of Odessa, TX; Jarrod Clark of Odessa, TX; Zac Cameron of Durham, NC; granddaughters, Kelley Brown Little, husband Bobby of Prosper, TX; Amy Rathjen Bell, husband Landon of Odessa, TX; Taylor Cameron of Durham, NC; Noel and Nadia Faber of Singapore. Great-grandsons, Ryan James Little of Prosper, TX; Cameron Clark of Odessa, TX; Logan Turner Brown of Durham, NC; Brentley Bell of Odessa, TX; Great-granddaughters, Karson McKenna Little of Prosper, TX and Evelyn Elizabeth Brown of Durham, NC.

Bud is preceded in death by his parents, Leroy James Brown of Norfolk, NE and Helen Louis Brown of Oklahoma City, OK; wife Mary Elizabeth Conradt Brown of Odessa, TX; daughter, Barbara Jean Brown Rathjen of Odessa, TX; brother Jerry Brown of Minneapolis, MN; sister, Amy-Gayle Clausen of Oklahoma City, OK.

Funeral Services were held at 2 pm Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Pittsboro, NC. 1309 N Pea Ridge Rd. Pittsboro, NC 27312. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa, TX. Graveside services TBD.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes you consider making a memorial donation in Leroy Brown's honor to Cora Food Pantry at 40 Camp Dr. Pittsboro, NC 27312.