Phyllis Brown

Phyllis (Kula) Brown, 84, of Gettysburg, died Monday, April 8, 2013 at Avera Gettysburg Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 12, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gettysburg with Fr. Jerry Kopel officiating. Burial followed in the Gettysburg Cemetery. Visitation was held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 11, 2013 at the church with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service.

On August 30, 1928 a daughter was born to Charlie and Helen (Phillip) Kula at Spencer Maternity Home in Gettysburg, SD. She attended country grade school and graduated in 1946 from Gettysburg High School. She went on to attend Black Hills Business Academy, graduating in 1948.

In 1952 Phyllis met Robert Raynor who was with the United State Air Force. They were married in Rapid City and this began her life as a military wife. This allowed them many years of seeing a lot of the world. She worked as a civil government employee, traveling with the highest general during war time, taking statistics on the war causalities.

In 1965 she married Wayne C. Brown. He was a Master Sergeant of the US Air Force. At the time they were stationed in Cape Canaveral for three years. Here she worked for NASA and was able to meet all of the original astronauts personally. While Wayne was on his fly missions, Phyllis was able to pursue her passions of bowling, golfing, photography and gardening.

Upon retirement Phyllis moved to San Antonio where she lived until 2012 at which time she requested to come home, live out her days and be buried by her parents.

Phyllis is survived by her siblings: Calvin Kula of McKinney, TX and Elaine (Jim) Thomas of Gettysburg; 10 nieces and nephews: Linda (Dana) Vail of Gettysburg, Daniel (Bev) Thomas, Sandra (Jay) Hagen, Robert (Carmen) Thomas, Rhonda (Dale) Schmautz, Michael (Diane) Kula, Tom (Kathy) Kula, Jane (Ladia) Jakubec, Joan (Scott) Wagner and Mary (John) Minnis; her special friend, Edward “Buster” Keaton of San Antonio, TX and companion cat, Cooper.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wayne C. Brown in 1979; and sister in law, Inez Kula.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Phyllis’s arrangements.