Robert E. L. Brown died following a lengthy illness. At the time of his death, Mr. Brown resided in Hollis, New York.

He was born in Bartow, Florida and was the youngest child of Lawrence B. Brown and Annie Bell (Granger) Brown. He was preceded in death by brothers Benjamin Burnett, Lorenzo, and Clifford; sisters Louvenia (L.C.B.) Thomas, Annie Bell, and Mary.

He is survived by his adopted son, Byron Priester; a grand niece, Louvenia Walthour of Palmetto, Fl, and other relatives throughout Polk County, including the Young family, as well as relatives in Tampa, Brooksville, and elsewhere.

Robert Brown's father, Lawrence B. Brown (a.k.a. Lorenzo) was the builder of what is now the Historic L.B.Brown House Museum (c.1892), located at 470 L.B. Brown Avenue in Bartow. Following his father's death in 1941, management of the family's many businesses was left to eighteen year old Robert. His mother had died several years earlier, and the older children were no longer living at home.

Visitation will be held Friday July 27, 2012 at the funeral home.
Funeral service will be Saturday July 28, 2012 at Gause Funeral Home Chapel.