R. Edwin Browne

R. Edwin Browne died gently and peacefully at the Shangri-La Rehab Center, Blue Springs, MO Saturday, May 22, 2010. He joins Joy Harder Browne, the love of his life and wife for 66 years who preceded him to Heaven four months earlier. Edwin was a man of principle who stood by his friends no matter the cost. He was a wonderful, caring father who taught his children by example to love and trust our Heavenly Father. He maintained a gentle, loving spirit and unique sense of humor to the end.
Edwin was born August 22nd, 1917, in Kansas City, KS, the first of Ada and Roy E. Browne’s three children. A lifelong and devoted member of the RLDS/Community of Christ church, Edwin held the office of High Priest and served as Pastor, District President and Stake Counselor. As a student at the University of Kansas in the early 1940s he was the first DJ in Lawrence at WREN. In 1946, as Public Relations Director of the University of Kansas, he commissioned Hal Sandy to draw a new Jayhawk, instructing him to make sure it had a confident smile. In 1952, as a Professor of Journalism and Director of Radio and Television at KU, he put radio station KANU on the air. It became the first non-commercial stereo station in the country. In the 1960s, as President of the Kansas School of Religion, Edwin provided the conceptual drawings for their new building on campus, with a burning bush stained glass window, and a statue of Moses kneeling outside. In the 60s architects followed his drawings for the Lawrence RLDS church. Primarily due to a booklet Edwin created while serving on the Board of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters in Washington, D.C., in the 1960s, channels were reserved for public television stations across the country. From 1969 to 1975, he managed KXTR radio in Kansas City.
Edwin is survived by his sister, Elinor Stewart, of Sierra Vista, AZ; son Roy E. Browne and wife Gina, Independence, MO; daughter Ruthann Siebert and husband John; son Jim Browne and wife Donna; daughter Nancy Browne, all of Blue Springs, MO; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Edwin’s life will be held Saturday, July 17th, at 2:00 at the Stone Church, 1012 Lexington Avenue in Independence. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Neighborhood Councils, c/o Rixie Adams, 812 N. Union Street, Independence, MO 64050, Outreach International, P.O. Box 210, Independence, MO 64051-0210.
Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th Street, Independence, MO 64055, 816-373-3600. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.speakschapel.com.

This information was provided to the Journal-World as a paid tribute.

• E-mail this obituary