Obituary of David Robert Brown

David Robert Brown, husband of Joni (Astrop) Mabry Brown, passed away at the age of 68 on June 3, 2021 in Sumter, SC from Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He was born on January 27, 1953 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Parents were Robert Henry Brown and Ruth Eleanor Brown of Nipomo, California (both deceased). David grew up in Anaheim, California and attended Katella High School where he was student body president. As a teenager, he sang in his church choir, played oboe in the band, and acted in many theater productions. He attended Hillsdale College and later received a BA in Economics from Chapman University in 1979 while serving in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Alaska, Goose Bay, Labrador, and finally Shaw Air Force Base. After seven years of service, he left the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant, making Sumter his home. He became a CPA and worked for Plowden Construction, the SC Judicial Department, and the City of Sumter. He later worked in finance and purchasing at Lexington Richland School District 5, Sumter School District, and Orangeburg School District 5 before retiring in 2012. David was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon, elder, and church treasurer. He was a former member of the Optimist Club and served on boards for the Sumter Gallery of Art and the Sumter Little Theatre. Throughout his life, David’s greatest loves were acting and the theatre. He showed his ability at an early age. As a child, he appeared on the “Art Linkletter Show and later performed on many public television shows in California. His first role at Sumter Little Theatre was as Perchek in “Fiddler on the Roof”. He played leading roles in “Oliver”, “On Golden Pond”, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Death of a Salesman” “Greater Tuna” and “A Christmas Story”. His last role was in the 2017 production of “The Producers.” He also directed productions of “Driving Miss Daisy”, “Crimes of the Heart” and “A Bad Year for Tomatoes”. David is survived by his wife of 34 years, a sister, Marcie Reil of Kelseyville, California, brothers, Mark Brown (Vickie) of Huntsville, Alabama and Steven Brown of Dewey, Arizona: nephews, Robert Reil (Tori) of Kelseyville, CA, Brandon Reil (Kayla) of Lompoc, CA, and Michael Brown of Magalia, CA: sisters-in-law Becky Aschenbrenner of Dayton, Ohio and Melissa Boord (Ken) of Woodbridge, VA and brother-in-law Eddie Presley (Sherry) of Winston Salem, NC: lifelong friend, Larry Fudger and his Sumter Little Theatre family. The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 6 from 3-5 PM at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home at 221 Broad Street, Sumter. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 9 West Calhoun Street, Sumter, SC 29150 on Monday, June 7 at 11:00 AM. with the Rev. Josie Holler officiating. Private graveside services will be held at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to Sumter Little Theatre, 14 Mood Avenue, Sumter, SC 29150, First Presbyterian Church, 9 W. Calhoun St Sumter, SC 29150, or the Sumter SPCA, 1140 S. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150. On-line condolences may be made to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral and Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements.