Robert Calvin Brownlee

On Thursday evening at 7:03PM sickness ceased and the gift of life eternal became reality for Robert Calvin Brownlee, III. Before his soul departed he lay in the arms of his beloved wife, Judith Irby Brownlee. The two of them sang their favorite Psalms and prayed together. What a gift, what a blessing, what a privilege! Dr. Brownlee was born on March 13, 1922 in the small college town of Due West, South Carolina to Robert Calvin Brownlee, Jr. and Eleanor Louise Pressly. He was their only child. He was raised in the AR Presbyterian church where he was baptized and was a lifelong Presbyterian having served as a deacon in the Greenville, SC ARP church. Dr. Brownlee and his wife have three children. Katherine Brownlee Chambers of Charlotte, NC (spouse C. Labron Chambers, Jr., MD and son Tripp), Jonathan Irby Calvin Brownlee, MD of Shelby, NC (spouse Molly Powell Brownlee and children Jack, Janie, and Charlie) and Robert Calvin Brownlee, IV, MD of Charleston, SC. Dr. Brownlee was predeceased by his precious granddaughter, Sloan Preston Chambers on September 26, 2011. Dr. Brownlee also has two daughters from a previous marriage - Eleanor Brownlee Koets of Summerville, SC (spouse Donald Joe Koets and children Julia and Joseph) and Susan Walker Brownlee of Somerset, NJ. Dr. and Mrs. Brownlee have spent time after retiring from Chapel Hill, NC at their homes in Litchfield Beach, SC and Dr. Brownlee's family home in Due West, SC which they have lovingly restored. Dr. Brownlee realized a lifelong dream in 2007 when the entire family celebrated Christmas at the family home. Dr. Brownlee earned his B.A. from Erskine College in 1943. He matriculated to medical school at Vanderbilt University and graduated in 1945. There he began his residency in Pediatrics which was interrupted by World War II. He served as a Captain in the US Air Force. In addition, he was recalled to serve in the Korean War. He completed his residency at the University of Virginia and then returned to Vanderbilt where he served as Chief Resident. In 1951 he was co-founder of the Christie Pediatric Group in Greenville, SC, during which time he served as consultant to and later director of the State Crippled Children's Clinic and Shriners Hospital. Dr. Brownlee left the Christie Group in 1970 to become Director of Pediatric Education at Greenville Hospital System. There he established the residency program for Pediatrics. In 1976 he became affiliated with the American Board Pediatrics where he served as an oral examiner and as President until 1992. During Dr. Brownlee's professional career he held faculty appointments at Medical University of South Carolina, University of Pennsylvania (CHOP), and University of North Carolina School of Medicine (Go Heels!). Dr. Brownlee served on many medical boards and chaired many medical committees. In retirement he thoroughly enjoyed pediatric practice at the Orange/Chatham County, NC Comprehensive Health Services Clinic. Dr. Brownlee was asked to be the first medical diplomat into China from the U.S. following the Chinese Revolution. He later served as a pediatric diplomat to Egypt. Dr. Brownlee loved sports and participated in golf and tennis with skill and enthusiasm. While in Greenville, SC he served on the Board of Governors of the Greenville Country Club and was instrumental in design and construction of the tennis house. Nine weeks before Dr. Brownlee inherited eternal life he enjoyed a game of golf with older son Jon. Our family is so thankful for the enormous blessing of having known, loved and been loved by such a beautiful, selfless and wise human being who truly qualified as the epitome of a southern gentleman. His request was for any memorial gifts to go to the ABP Foundation, 111 Silver Cedar Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 or to where he and his love were married: The Old Brick Church in Fairfield County, c/o TCS Lever, 1787 Windsor Drive, Lancaster, SC 29720. Funeral services will begin at 3:00P.M. on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at Due West A.R.P Church, 112 North Main St., Due West, SC. Burial with military honors will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends after the service in the church fellowship hall. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES of Abbeville is assisting the Brownlee family.