AUBURN – Robert S. Brown, 75, of 5 Tampa St., Lewiston, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 15, surrounded by his family, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice in Auburn, following a brief illness.

Born in Lewiston on July 29, 1933, he was the son of Lloyd and Germaine Pelletier Brown. Educated locally, he graduated from St. Dominic’s High School, where he was known both as the class clown and as “Golden Toe,” for kicking a field goal and giving his school their first ever win in football over Lewiston High School.

He married the former Diane Eva Belleville on Sept. 29, 1956.

He joined the U.S. Air Force and proudly served his country for more than 25 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1978. During his Air Force career, he was stationed at air bases all over the world, including Bangor, Omaha, Neb., Puerto Rico, Plattsburgh, N.Y., Rantoul, Ill., and helped support the war effort in Vietnam while stationed at U-Tapao in Thailand. Wherever he was stationed, he served as Santa Claus for the base children during their Christmas celebrations.

After retiring from active duty, he returned to Lewiston and worked several different jobs, including Laverdiere’s on Lisbon Street, driving school buses for Hudson Bus Lines, and at state liquor stores in Auburn and Lewiston, where he loved talking to customers.

A member of St. Patrick’s Parish, he served on the parish council for four years, and spent many years as an usher. He also belonged to the American Legion, Post No. 158 for 18 years.

Always talkative and gregarious, he enjoyed shopping, especially at Wal-Mart, Hannaford on Sabattus Street, and Victor News on Park Street, where he loved meeting people and socializing.

He and his wife enjoyed going to plays, musicals, concerts, taking long drives together in the fall to “leaf peep,” traveling to see their children out of state, and going to Rumford to visit with their special friends, Ted and Charlotte Tanguay.

Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Diane, of Lewiston; three sons, Michael of St. Joseph, Ill., Roger and wife, Diana, of Green Bay, Wis., and Russell and wife, Lynne, of Avon, Ind.; four daughters, Carol Brown of Old Orchard Beach, Lisa Brown of Lewiston, Kathryn Brown of Van Nuys, Calif., and Stephanie Brown of Lewiston; six grandchildren, Alaina Biddle and husband, Ricky, and Robby, Randi Jo, Ryan, Tyler, and Dale Brown; and two great-grandchildren, Kaden and Peyton Biddle.

He also leaves behind Jackie Tanguay and Sean Gallagher, who are very special friends to the family and people he loved to be around.

Robert’s grandson, Dale Brown, brought him extreme joy and exuberance over the last nine years and he was not only “Papa” to him but a father figure as well. He was especially proud of winning the father/son cake-making contest in which they entered for Dale’s Cub Scout Troop 116 this past year.

The family would like to thank Dr. Austin and the staffs of the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice and C2 at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center for all the loving care they gave Bob during his final illness.