Velma Marie Brown's Obituary
Velma Marie Brown, age 90, of Burlington, WI (formerly of Fayetteville) passed away Sunday, May 4, 2025. She was born September 12, 1934, in Fayetteville, AR a daughter of the late Elliot Loyd Warren and Nona Eva Blake Warren. Also preceding her in death was her husband, Walter Richard Brown, who died November 24, 2005; a son Larry Keith Brown, who died November 23, 2024; a sister, Helen Murphy; and brothers, Chester Warren, Lloyd Warren, and Charles Warren.
Velma was born to Eliott and Nona Warren. She was the youngest child born in a family of 7, one sister and three brothers (one who died in infancy). In 1946 to 1947, she was 12 years old when her brothers, Lloyd and Charles, returned from WWII safely. She attended Son’s Chapel for grade school in a one room school house with a potbelly stove in the center of the room. Many times, while walking to school, she had to outrun the bull in the neighbors’ pasture. During high school before there were busses, she would stay in town with her Grandma Blake so she could attend high school. Her early education was overseen by her brothers as they wanted to make sure she got an education. Velma met Walter, who was called Richard, who became the love of her life and husband in the high school library. They worked together on binding and repairing books. Richard went to college, and Velma went to Sparks Hospital to become a nurse. Richard decided college wasn’t for him and joined the Army at age 19. Meanwhile, Richard and Velma communicated by phone while Walter (Army insisted Richard be called by his first name) was in basic training. About the second year of nursing school, Walter asked Velma to marry him via telephone while he was in Utah. Velma rode a greyhound bus to visit her brother Charles in Colorado. Charles then called Grandma Warren to report Velma was on her way to marry Walter. It was thought that he believed Velma had run away. They married in Elko, NV on August 13, 1956. They drove back to Arkansas after marriage and planned that Velma would continue nursing school and not tell them she was married. At about Kansas, the decision was made to end nursing school and start her lifelong adventure as an Army wife. What started in Utah lead to Arizona, Alaska, Oklahoma, Georgia and Panama Canal zone (in the 70s). After retirement, Walter and Velma built a house on a family plot in Northwest Arkansas. Walter worked at University of Arkansas for another 20 years until his second retirement from the workforce. Then they began their adventure in RVing around the US with even trips to Mexico and Alaska via Canada and frequent trips to visit children and grandchildren out of state. After Walter passed, Velma decided to move into Innisfree assisted living facility where she enjoyed maintaining the library and putting puzzles together. Due to her wanting to be closer to immediate family, she moved to Wisconsin. Velma was a frequent traveler with her son, Alan, and family in a 3-door truck pulling a 5th wheel. Travels with family included trips to the Glacier National Park to her favorite place which was Lake Louise, Canada and another trip to the Florida Keys which was a dream come true for her. She received excellent care at Oak Park Place in Burlington, WI where she lived and enjoyed attending Bible study, playing BINGO and won often and also where she went home to be with her Lord and Savior on May 4, 2025. Velma never dreamed as a farm girl growing up in Northwest Arkansas, she would travel the world first as an Army wife and mother to 4 children and then travel with her son to other various locations.
Survivors are her son, Alan Richard Brown (Tammy); her daughters, Mary Ellen Goff, Kathy Ann Brown (Randy); her grandchildren, Lindsey Renee Brown, Leslie Marie Brown, Rachel E. Goff, Sarah B Bennett (Johnathon), Lydia R. Goff, Brittany Douglas, Spencer Brown; her great-grandchildren, Nicodemus (Nico) Martin and Bella Douglas.
Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at Nelson Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Funeral services will follow at 10:00 a.m. also at Nelson Berna. Burial will be in Oakland Zion Cemetery.
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