George Wilson Brown

George Wilson Brown (Papaw/ Paw George), born October 30, 1924, went to be with his Lord and Savior peacefully at the Homestead on Tuesday, November 8th in Waynesville, NC at the age of 92. Paw George was preceded in death by his parents, Jess & Guscelia Brown of Sylva; his wives, Helen Jones Brown and Opal Sanders Brown; five brothers, Hugh Robert, Fred, Hammie, Clarence and Delios Brown, all of Sylva; one sister, Bonnie Brown Cogdill; one child, Doug Sanders, one grandchild Connie Bishop Higdon. Paw George is survived by his children, Liz Broom, of Sylva, Joyce (Roger) Bishop, Sue (Alvin) Johnson, Ray (Mary) Sanders, Becky Cochran, Vivian (Robert) Hughes, all of Franklin; one brother, Gene Brown; one sister, Delia Stanford Brown both of Sylva; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and special family members Marion and Wanda Jones and their family. Paw George was born in 1924 in Haywood County. He graduated from Sylva High School. He was immediately drafted into the Navy and served in WWII. He was in all four invasions of WWII which included the invasion of the beaches of Normandy and played an important role in our freedom today. After he served his time in the Navy and WWII was over, he moved to Darrington, WA for many years. In the early 1960's he moved back to Jackson County, where he continued to be a heavy equipment operator until retirement. He traveled the United States building bridges, which included the Tampa expressway. He made several trips to Honduras on mission trips building churches, hospitals and schools. Paw George was a God fearing man who read his Bible faithfully every morning and he witnessed to his Lord and Savior daily. In his early years he was a member of Buff Creek Baptist Church from which he served every office including Deacon, later he moved and became a member of Watauga Baptist Church in Franklin. A celebration of his life is scheduled for Friday, November 11th at 11am at Buff Creek Baptist Church, his family will receive friends at Appalachian Funeral Home in Sylva on Thursday, November 10, from 6-8pm. Burial will be at the Addie Cemetery with Military rights conducted by the local American Legion Sylva Post 104. A reception to follow at Buff Creek Baptist fellowship hall following burial. Wesley Price will officiate the ceremony and special prayer from Lloyd Fish, Avery Brown and Pat Farmer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: American Legion Sylva Post 104, PO Box 104 Sylva, NC 28779. The family would like to thank the caregivers from the Homestead in Haywood County for their love, care and support.