Timothy Thomas Brown

Timothy T. Brown, 82, died at home on January 3, 2024, in the arms of his family after extended years of health challenges. He is survived by his loving wife and companion, Beth Powers; sons, Patrick Brown and Daniel Brown (Sivie Simpson); daughter, Emily Brown (Andrew Johnson); and many more family members and friends.

Tim was born to Mayme and Daniel (Clint) Brown in Cottonwood, Idaho. He joined his brother Brian, and the family soon moved to Richland, WA. Their childhood was lived in the “alphabet village” government housing built for families of wartime Hanford workers. Molly, Bruce, and Patsy joined a childhood full of fun and music as Mayme taught piano lessons in their home and Clint built their new home on the Yakima River. Family gatherings with cousins punctuated the work and the fun times.

Tim had a close bond with his mother, caring for his younger siblings while she taught lessons and learning to play piano and violin as the opportunities arose. He first played a violin made by his maternal grandfather, Leo Welsh. He played string bass in community musical productions and traveled with dance combos throughout SE Washington during his high school and college years.

At WSU, Tim was influenced to switch instruments by a beloved cello teacher, Arthur Follows. After graduating as a cellist music educator in 1964, Tim and his first wife, Barbara, joined the Peace Corps and were assigned to Bolivia as part of a cultural exchange. After returning to Seattle, the birth of son Patrick was a great joy. Tim later returned to music studies with Follows as his graduate assistant at Texas Tech University, earning a master’s degree. In 1971, Tim joined the music faculty at Fayetteville State University, a public historically black university in North Carolina.

He later set aside his music career for a time to single parent Patrick, working as a social worker in Watts, Pasco, and finally at Blue Mountain Action Council in Walla Walla.

Tim was appointed principal cellist for the Walla Walla Symphony in 1979 and later led the strings program at Walla Walla High School. From a low point of 4 students at the high school, Tim restored the program to vibrancy. Teaching them from elementary through high school, Tim became close to many of his students over the years and took great joy in their love of music as an essential part of a satisfying life, regardless of their eventual choice of career.

Tim and Beth Powers married in 1987 and added to the family with the births of Emily and Daniel. As two-career parents, these were busy years with music lessons, sports, and other family activities.

After retiring, Tim became the at-home parent. Beth’s sabbatical leave from Walla Walla Community College in 2002 allowed the family to live in Spain for an extended period, which led to further travels. Beth and Tim enjoyed trips to Australia, Scotland, Ireland, Portugal, Ecuador, Alaska, Iceland, and Norway, often joined by the family or to visit family members residing overseas. In the last year of his life the couple visited Costa Rica and cruised the Danube River experiencing first hand some of the history of classical music. In Tim’s words, that was “a very satisfying culmination of many years of teaching about and playing the music of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and many of the masters.”

Tim was truly a teacher at heart. He taught Emily and Dan to cook and to make every meal a celebration. He loved his students and enjoyed mentoring them. As a performer, he derived joy when he was helping a younger or less experienced player cope with difficult musical passages or fingerings. This was one of his great satisfactions in playing with the Inland Northwest Musicians Orchestra with R. Lee Friese, based in Hermiston, OR. He was unselfish in preparing others for competitions and performances and providing logistical support for performers at the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival.

Tim will be greatly missed, but he touched many hearts with love and music.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 11, 2024, at 2:00 PM, in the picnic shelter at Rooks Park. Family and friends are invited to bring memories to share.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Inland Northwest Musicians or the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival through Herring-Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guest book at www.herringgroseclose.com