Albert Joseph Brown

Albert Joseph (Al) Brown departed this life on May 24, 2012 at his home at Primrose Retirement Community in Wasilla, Alaska. He was 87, and is survived by his wife of 65 years, Peggy, son Mike Brown of Montrose, Colorado and daughter Kelley Jacobson of Anchorage. He was the proud grandfather of Zach Brown of Anchorage and Meredith Brown of Denver, Colorado. The youngest of eleven children, he was preceded in death by his parents, Anton and Anna Brown as well as his ten brothers and sisters. Al was born on the family farm near Rhineland, in Knox County, Texas on July 21, 1924 and graduated from high school there in 1942. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943, underwent pilot training and served in various capacities stateside until his discharge in 1946. Following his years in the service, Al married his lifelong love, Peggy Norris of Goree, Texas in June, 1946. They would remain married until his death. In 1949, Al entered Tulsa University in Oklahoma and graduated Summa cum Laude with a degree in Petroleum Engineering in early 1953. He then began a career with The Atlantic Refining Company, which would later become ARCO that would last for the next 33 years. He spent many years in the Permian Basin area of West Texas, before moving to a position in senior management in Midland, Texas and finally to Alaska in 1975, at the start up of ARCO’s Prudhoe Bay project. After eventually becoming Senior Production Manager Prudhoe, he returned to the Permian Basin to finish his career as Operations Manager of the Permian District in Midland. He and Peggy retired from the oil industry in 1986 and raised cattle on a small ranch at Melvin, Texas, before moving to San Angelo in 1999. They resided there until their recent move to Wasilla. During his life, Al enjoyed many sporting activities such as bird hunting, fishing, and golf. He was a civic minded individual as well and served as a Director of the Permian Basin Oil Show in Odessa, Texas and Brady, Texas Hospital. During his years in Andrews, Texas, he was quite proud to have been a member of the Mesquite Burners, a local organization providing catering of Texas style outdoor cooking. Al’s greatest pleasure was spending time with his family and he especially enjoyed family gatherings with his wife, children & grandchildren all in attendance. Al was a ‘big brother’ to his sister-in-laws Lynda Miller & Barbara Hogard having taught them both to drive. He also spent many happy times teasing his mother-in-law, Gloria (Mimi) and making her pots of chili. Al was a loving husband and father and his family & friends will miss him greatly. A brief funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at Ellis Funeral Chapel in Midland, Texas. The service will be preceded by a short visitation beginning at 12:00 noon. Internment will follow the service at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Home Health and Hospice at 950 East Bogard, Wasilla, Alaska 99654.