ANGIER

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth...put out my hand and touched the face of God."*

Ricky C. Brown (Rick) passed away at Duke University Hospital on Tuesday, May 12 with his wife, Deborah (Deb) at his side. He was born in Roxboro, NC. For more than 29 years, Rick lived with Deb in Angier, NC on a pond, which they considered their retreat place.

After graduating from Frank L. Ashley High School in Gastonia, NC, he enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Two years later, he entered the US Army and became a helicopter pilot. He was a combat pilot and Chief Warrant Officer in Vietnam from 1970-1971, earning a Bronze Star Medal and numerous Air Medals.

Rick returned to UNC-Chapel Hill after serving in Vietnam and completed a Bachelor's degree in Psychology while flying helicopters as a reservist in the NC Army National Guard. His education also included graduate coursework at Appalachian State University and a Master's degree from the University of Mississippi in Clinical Psychology. After joining the US Air Force in 1982, he completed his clinical psychology internship at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB. Rick retired from the military as a Captain in the US Air Force Reserves.

His professional career included Chief of Mental Health at Seymour Johnson AFB and director of the psychology department at Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro, NC, during which he was awarded Psychologist of the Year. Rick also had a part-time private practice at a local mental health clinic. Loving travel, he taught psychology classes part-time to sailors on US Navy ships which took him around the world. Later on, he was a teacher at Harnett County schools before he retired.

Military service and support were important to Rick. His involvement with his veteran brothers at the Raleigh Vet Center and Raleigh VA were bright spots in his life during the past few years. He served on the Durham VA Mental Health Council to help veterans navigate the VA health system and participated on the veteran panel at the Durham VA's Community Mental Health Summit. Rick was a lifetime member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Throughout his life, Rick had an artist's soul with a passion for Art Deco and handblown glass. He never hesitated to surround himself with various forms of art and enjoyed going to the Asheville annual crafts guild show, art museums and galleries representing local artists.

Rick's love for the NC Mountains started early in life, as he grew up in the Linville Falls area and later lived in West Jefferson while attending Appalachian State University. Whitewater rafting, hiking and driving the Blue Ridge Parkway were among his fondest mountain memories, especially the 360 view from Craggy Pinnacle where he and Deb were married.

An animal lover, Rick often brought home rescues and considered himself lucky to share his life with every dog and cat he ever "owned." He loved watching movies and the original Blade Runner was his favorite. Rick also was an avid reader, keeping up with politics and world affairs and was a go-to person for recommendations on good books. A stiff contender at Words with Friends, he always gave amateur players a little slack to stay in the game. An aspiring writer, he occasionally wrote poetry and was an ongoing collector of inspiring quotes and messages.

Finally, Rick always said he would like to be remembered as having a kind, tender heart and a good sense of humor. His family and friends know without a doubt that this mission was absolutely accomplished.

Rick is survived by his wife, Deborah Parker; brothers-in-law Chris Parker (Teresa) and Bobby Parker; nephews Clark Bowen, Scott Bowen, Christopher Parker (Stephanie), and Wesley Parker; niece, Gayla Wilmoth; grandnephew, Kai Parker; grandniece, Stella Parker; longtime pet, Peridot; and beloved extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lucille McNair; father, Ollie Clyde Brown; brothers, James Bowen and Gene Bowen; and first wife, Lanelle Brown.

Rick's family is very grateful to Dr. Rebecca Crouch and the Campbell University physical therapy program for the pro bono pulmonary physical therapy he received there and the opportunity for him to speak and work with the students as part of their training. The family would also like to thank the medical staff at Duke University Hospital and the Durham/Fayetteville VA for their dedicated care and kindness, especially during his last days at Duke.

A military funeral honors service will be held for Rick at Arlington National Cemetery on May 14, 2021. There will be a celebration of his life at a later date.

Those wishing to make memorial gifts are encouraged to make donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or Military Missions in Action, www.militarymissionsinaction.org

*Quote from John Gillespie Magee's "High Flight"