Harold Herman Brown            April 27, 2023

Harold Herman Brown

09/09/74—04/27/23

This is a collection of short stories from the family about Herman Brown—a man full of love, knowing no stranger, give you the shirt off his back, make you laugh until you peed yourself, sweet spirit.

Herman grew up in Virginia but if you want to know where he was born, you’ll need to ask his wife or mother—he never remembered.

Always known as the prankster and class clown, his mother’s second residence was the school office. Herman was the middle child of three children; an older brother that he would ride bikes with for miles just to get bubblegum or go fishing and, a younger sister, who they left in a culvert for hours after unhooking her brakes, so she didn’t tag along.

His true love was fishing; his wife of thirty years was a close second. He’d catch, clean, and cook the fish, giving her one job—make the macaroni salad. That one request resulted in a case of food poisoning which to this day, she has never lived down. 

Herman’s love for fishing has been passed down to his son who learned not only to fish but also to love the lessons that come with fishing. He taught him not to complain about being bored or hot while you fish; you’re likely to end up in the lake playing ‘King of the Boat’ or looking for a wallet in the water when it’s still inside the boat. He taught him how to never again hook up a boat trailer to a truck after it disconnected from the hatch, rolled down the driveway, through and over the retaining wall, and crashed into the shed. His son will share those experiences with his nephews and his own son—preferably without destroying a boat or a shed.

Herman moved his family to Indiana to live with his brother’s family where the six of them lived in a tiny trailer with one bathroom. There he decided to take on his first general contracting job by remodeling the trailers ‘working’ bathroom because it was ugly. There was an issue with the reconnecting of the plumbing resulting in the shower backing up instead of draining—can you imagine taking a shower while dirty water floated up your legs? They were never clean again from the knees down but hey, the avocado green and gold were gone.

Upon returning to Virginia, he pursued an online college degree along with his wife. For graduation they flew to Arizona where he was prouder to pee into the Grand Canyon than to walk the stage. Later in life, when he became Paw, he made sure his grandsons learned how to pee outside before they knew how to pee in the potty.

When it comes to pranks, the apples never fall far from the tree. His daughter tried her hand at it once by placing a dirty diaper in his work boot. As only Herman could, he played like she hadn’t gotten him and patiently waited until the time was right. He found a decomposed, flattened rat, placed it in a box, gave the box to his mother to gift wrap, and then gave it to his daughter for Christmas.

One of his favorite things to do with the grandsons was to sneak up on them, catching them in the middle of doing something they were getting into, and video record them being busted. They thought it was hilarious.

Whenever there were family pictures taken with his wife’s family, he ensured a good laugh by grabbing his sister-in-law’s backside—every time. The running joke with the husband’s was, “Twins Basil.”

Herman was known as son, brother, Honey, and Dad—all of which he loved but, when he became Paw there was no denying, they were his favorite loves. He taught them what country living was all about, including playing in the mud while wearing their Sunday best after Gramma and Mom said no. They were his world, and he was theirs.

Herman never said “Goodbye” to anyone, ever—it seems fitting for his final departure that those words were not heard. So today we say, “Until we see you again.”

The loved ones that cleared the path for his arrival are his father, Larry Eugene Brown; John Oscar Brown and Betty Irene Young (paternal grandparents); Norvel Brown and Virginia Lee Brown (maternal grandparents). The loved ones missing him until they meet again are his wife, Lisa Brown; Tiffany (daughter), Lucas, and Kaydin Brown (grandsons); Joshua (son) and Abby Brown; Lorene Brown (mother); Micky (brother) and Carrie Brown; Cindy (sister) and Jonathon Weakley. Along with 2 nephews, 4 nieces, 2 great-nephews and, sister/brother in laws.

Donations can be made on Herman’s behalf to:

Palmyra Volunteer Fire Company 1

14567 James Madison Hwy

Palmyra, VA 22963

A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday May 9, 2023 at Preddy Funeral Home in Gordonsville with Pastor Walter Smith officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 prior to the service at the funeral home.