Dean Brownell Obituary

BROWNELL, Dean Dean Huntley Brownell, age 98, long-time resident of Brevard, NC, died February 15, 2008 at 6 Westhaven Drive, Asheville. He was born December 24, 1909, at home on Pearson Drive in Asheville. He was the sixth and youngest child born to Charles Herbert & Mabel Huntley Brownell of Washington Court House and Clyde Ohio, respectively. Dean spent his early childhood in Washington Court House. His family moved to Asheville in 1919. He delivered the morning newspaper from the paper office downtown to Chestnut Street during the 1920s, including the Wolfe home, and once struck Mr. Wolfe with the paper accidentally. Perhaps he inspired Thomas Wolfe's character of a paperboy in his novel, Look Homeward Angel. He loved the mountains and as a boy hiked with Dr. Gaillard Tennent and the Carolina Mountain Club. He attended Dr. Thrall's School for Boys on Merrimon Avenue as a youth and graduated from David Millard High School in 1929. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1934 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He married Miriam Wylie in 1941. During World War II he worked for American Shipbuilding Company near Cleveland, Ohio, and Bell Aircraft Company in Burlington Vermont. He helped design B-24 bomber gunfire control systems and the bomb-release mechanisms still in use on modern military aircraft. After the war he worked at Enka Corporation, later moving to Brevard to work at Ecusta Paper Corp. as Project Engineer. He retired in 1974. He was a Life Member of the Elks Club in Brevard, the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, the Brevard Lion's Club, and the Kiwanis Club. Dean was preceded in death in 1952 by his first wife and mother of his children, Miriam Wylie Brownell, and his second wife of more than 30 years Ilse Straus Brownell. He is survived by his daughter, Lynne and husband, Dr. John D. Matheson of Asheville; his son, Prescott H. Brownell and wife, Nancy, of Charleston, SC; brother-in-law, Karl Straus and his wife Sylvia and their family; stepsons, Walter Straus and wife Mary Ann of Houston, Texas and Dr. Steven Straus and wife Dr. Heather Lee of Chapel Hill, NC. Dean has ten grandchildren, including Katherine M. Rebol and husband Dr. Christopher Rebol of Asheville, Marion M. Robeson and husband Jason of Asheville, John Davis Matheson, Jr., of Asheville, Huntley Brownell of Honolulu, Hawaii, Naylor Brownell of Charleston, SC, Charlton Brownell of Charleston, SC, Nathan Straus and wife Anna of Charleston. Dr. Brian Straus and wife of Houston, Texas, and Justin and Jason Straus of Chapel Hill. NC. Dean is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Matheson Boyd Robeson of Asheville, Philip and Joseph Straus of Charleston, and Marissa and Dylan Straus of Houston, TX. Dean was a kind and generous man, wonderful father, and positive role model for his extended family and many friends throughout his lifetime. He will be remembered for his smile and his goodness. He will be held in our loving memory forever. Memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to: Carolina Mountain Club, PO Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802. MORRIS FUNERAL HOME, 304 Merrimon Avenue, is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent through the website at www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.