Barry James Brown, beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, VA.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dennis John Brown and Ruby Edith Brown.   Barry is survived by his former wife, Amy Auslander, and their children: Kristofer Brown (wife Katie Spriggs), Zina Drott (husband Justin Drott), and Sarah Brown (husband Elliot Dondero).  He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Madison Drott, Luke Drott, and Kit Dondero, as well as his seven siblings: Tony Brown, Doug Brown, Elaine Starling, Trevor Brown, Mark Brown, Alison Brown, and Tessa Brown.

Barry was born in London, England on August 3, 1956 and grew up in Battersea, a borough near the River Thames.  As a boy, he joined the Sea Scouts, where he developed his lifelong love of the water.  At 16 years old, he was accepted into a boat building apprenticeship and became a qualified boat builder and fiberglass specialist by the time he was 20 years old.  He even lived on a houseboat on the River Thames while finishing trade school.  Barry had a passion for motorbikes and loved zipping around town in his Triumph motorbike with a sidecar.  He enjoyed socializing at the local pub, and attending 18+ social club events with his friends throughout England.

Barry met his former wife, Amy, in London in early 1980.  When she returned to the United States, he followed her, and they were married in 1982.  They raised three children, Kristofer, Zina, and Sarah.  He was always proud to be from England, and he kept his British citizenship throughout his life.  He worked as a polyurethane expert, team leader and supervisor at Electrodyne, Creative Urethane, and Mearthene Products Corporate (MPC) for the majority of his career, retiring in 2023.  His coworkers remember him as being the heartfelt guy who was always learning new equipment, fixing old machines, and helping everyone in the company.

He was a natural conversationalist, making friends everywhere he went.  Barry's genuine kindness forged lasting friendships both in England and the United States.  You could always call on Barry as he found happiness by helping other people.  Some of his favorite activities were family camping trips to Gettysburg, PA, a nice barbeque, and a cold beer with friends.  He loved to cook and enjoyed preparing holiday feasts that always included brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes, and yorkshire pudding.  He would crank up the volume on his surround sound while listening to music, television, or one of the many DVDs from his collection.  Some of his favorite musicians were Jeff Wayne's War of the World, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, Journey, Elton John, and Michael Jackson.   Barry could watch Doctor Who, Star Trek, Stargate, EastEnders, Monty Python, and The Santa Claus time and again.

His favorite animal was the wolf, and you would often find Barry wearing one of his many wolf-themed t-shirts, jeans, and boots tinkering with some old electronics, computers, or his motorbike out in the garage.  Barry had a deep affection for all animals, especially dogs, cats, and the squirrels he fed in his yard.  Sundays were spent watching NFL football and NASCAR races while catching up with family and friends over the phone.  He loved to goof off with his grandchildren by making them laugh with funny faces and his spot on Donald Duck impression.  He cherished spending time with his children and their growing families, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Barry will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His warmth, humor, and kindness will be remembered forever by his family, friends, and loved ones.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 11, 2025, 2pm-4pm, in the Reception Hall at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, 901 Amherst St. Winchester, VA 22601.

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