Seattle, Washington - Chuck Brown passed away peacefully on October 19, 2025, at age 100, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. The compassionate caregivers at Aegis Madison and Evergreen Hospice guided his brief end of life journey.

Chuck was born on March 9, 1925, in Port Townsend, WA to Ruth Reed Brown and Charles Kennedy Brown. Like so many of his generation, Chuck's early life was shaped by the hardships of the Depression and WWII. Chuck and his parents moved often while his father struggled to find work. His father eventually left his small family when Chuck was nine years old. Chuck and his mother moved to the home of his maternal grandparents, where an aunt with a steady job as a telephone operator supported the extended family.

Chuck was drafted on his 18th birthday during his senior year of high school and inducted into the Army shortly after his graduation. He served as an infantryman with the 12th Armored Division as it fought its way across France and Germany during the harsh winter of 1944-45. The Division liberated the concentration camp at Landsberg, Germany, a satellite camp of Dachau, and secured a crucial bridgehead over the Danube River at Dillingen. Chuck had not yet turned 21 when he returned home on Christmas Eve 1945, with memories both good and bad that would remain with him for the rest of his life.

In 1947, Chuck met Corinne Burns, the love of his life. Introduced on a double date, they married the following year at her parents' home near Port Townsend. Their 77-year marriage was Chuck's anchor and foundation. Chuck's gratitude for Corinne's support, patience, and humor grew with each passing year. After the birth of their daughter Shelly and son Scot the couple moved to Seattle, where Chuck worked for the Union Pacific Railroad before becoming the traffic manager for the Simpson Timber Company. Weekends and holidays were filled with boating, fishing, and camping throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Following retirement, Chuck pursued his passion for boatbuilding, furniture making and woodworking. He could be found on most winter days in the shop he built at his SeaTac home, a fire in the wood stove, jazz on the sound system, and a close friend or neighbor (they were interchangeable) on hand to give advice and exchange tales of the fish that got away.

Retirement also left Chuck time to reflect on his wartime service and to seek out those with whom he'd shared such profound experiences as young soldiers. This quest, more challenging in the days before the internet, eventually led Chuck to the 12th Armored Division Association. With no small amount of prodding, Chuck attended his first annual reunion of the Association in Louisville, KY in the early 1990s. During the next 35 years, he reconnected with several of the men with whom he'd served and met many others who became cherished friends.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in-law, and the aunts and uncles who helped raise him. He is survived by his beloved wife Corinne, daughter Shelly Brown Reiss, son-in-law Mike, son Scot, and grandson Jeb. He would want it known that in addition to his family, he loved his SeaTac neighbors, his friend and former caregiver Michele, his 12th Armored Division family, and the residents and staff of Aegis who enriched the last year of his life. His last words to all of us were "I love you."

A celebration of Chuck's life is being planned for early spring. Additional information will follow. If you

wish, please consider a donation to the 12th Armored Memorial Division Museum, 1289 N. 2nd Street, Abilene, TX 79601, or a charity of your choice.