Obituary: Robert H. "Budge" Brown Sr.

August 30, 1932 - May 18, 2011

Robert H. "Budge" Brown Sr., a resident of Gardnerville, was born in Stockton, Calif., and a longtime resident of Manteca, Calif. 

Among his many hobbies and pleasures along with spending time with his family were flying, swimming, hunting, boating, SCUBA diving, wine and travel.

Budge was the quintessential entrepreneur who was a farmer all of his life and founded many companies including Brown Sand, Inc. He is probably most fondly remembered as the founder of the Manteca Waterslides and inventor of the modern fiberglass waterslide tube. In his later years, he pursued his passion for farming and wine by combining the two and founding Tulip Hill Winery. After the death of his wife Arlene from Breast Cancer in 2005 he wanted to make a difference. In 2008 he founded Cleavage Creek Winery in Napa County and focused his time, energy and resources into donating 10 percent of the gross sales to fund cutting-edge breast cancer research and support.

Preceding him in death is his beloved wife of 48 years Arlene Marie Mantelli Brown.

His survivors include his partner in love, Lorraine Masterson; his children, Shellie Hakeem (Dave Hakeem), Robert Brown Jr. (Becki Brown), Michael Brown (Karel Brown),  Jeffrey Brown, Kristi Brown (Sara Hammond, partner), daughter-in-law Jackie Brown and Kaitlin Young (Lorraine's daughter); his grandchildren, Jay Wallis (Julie), Jennifer McDonald (Russ), Robb Brown III, Haley Brown, Erikson Brown, Michael Brown Jr., Andrew Brown, Jeffrey Brown Jr., Jessica Brown; his great-grandchildren, Justin Wallis, Jamie Wallis, Nicholas McDonald, Riley McDonald, Eli McDonald; and his niece, Kathleen Brown-Garcia.

In lieu of flowers the family requests gifts in Budge's memory be given to an organization that was close to his heart: Bastyr University, c/o BIORC-Budge Brown Memorials, 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore, WA 98028-4966, Bastyr Integrated Oncology Research Clinic (BIORC), 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore, WA 98028-4966, call 425-602-3008, or online www.bastyr.edu/development/donate.asp

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, 2011, at Quail Lakes Baptist Church, 1904 Quail Lakes Drive, Stockton, Calif. An online guest book to send condolences to the family is available at www.frymemorialchapel.com.