Robert E. Brown 1949-2025
By Paso Robles Press · Thu Sep 25 2025
Robert Elliott Brown, better known as Bob, passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025, after a 5-year battle with cancer at his home in Scottsdale, AZ. He was 76 years old.
Bob was born in Frankfort, Germany, on August 11, 1949, at Rein Main Air Base Hospital, where his father was stationed after WWII. His parents were Alan W. Brown and Betty N. (Stoalabarger) Brown. Growing up with a father in the Air Force, Bob, along with his brother Alan and sister Beth, lived in many places, including Roswell, NM, Rapid City, SD, Denver, CO, and Fairbanks, Territory of Alaska. He lived in Alaska when it became the 49th State.
In 1964, his dad retired from the Air Force, and the family settled in Victorville, California, where he attended Victor Valley High School (VVHS). Bob was an avid swimmer in his teen years and lettered on the VVHS water polo and swim team, where he set the school record in the breaststroke. Bob met the love of his life, Sharon Benge, and they both graduated from VVHS in 1967.
He and Sharon went on to attend Arizona State University (ASU), where Bob graduated with a degree in business in 1971. Bob and Sharon soon followed Sharon’s parents to San Luis Obispo, California, where they married on April 17, 1970, and continued that loving marriage for 55 plus years! Bob and Sharon had two sons, Jeff and Andy. Bob’s first venture in self-employment was a record business in 1971, called the Record Exchange on Foothill Blvd in San Luis Obispo. Bob later sold that business to start Sunshine Donuts in 1973 with his high school and college friend, Mike Taylor. Bob’s family life was his biggest priority and joy, raising two boys and teaching them how to water ski, snow ski, and play sports, and later coaching them in soccer and both Little League and Babe Ruth baseball. Bob, with the help of his friends Jerry Foster and Noel Desjardins, were able to get Atascadero’s first Little League charter started in 1982.
Whether it was spending time at Lake Nacimiento, catching a professional baseball game, or just sitting in the backyard debating friends by the pool, Bob knew how to entertain and have a good time. Bob made countless lifelong friends and touched the lives of many people. Everyone liked Bob and his laugh, and anyone that knew Bob has a great “Bob Story” to tell in true Brown fashion.
Bob sold Sunshine Donuts in 1995 and took some time off to travel the country with Sharon. They visited all the big-league baseball parks (Bob always had a love for baseball) and many historic cities, including Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, and Atlanta.
In 1997, Bob and Sharon moved to Scottsdale, AZ, to take advantage of the lower cost of living and enjoy retirement life. Bob enjoyed playing golf (particularly liars’ dice after the round) and rolling them at the craps tables in Tahoe. Bob would also enjoy an ASU football game from time to time. Bob traveled to Florida to spend time with his brother, Alan, and his family, and often traveled back to California to spend time with family and friends.
Remaining to cherish Bob’s memory are his wife Sharon, son Jeff (Tracy), son Andy (Michelle), brother Alan (Susan), sister Beth, grandchildren Maddie, Megan, Jack, J.T., A.J., Brice, and Colton, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, along with many lifelong friends. Bob lived his life to the fullest and will be missed, but his memory will never be forgotten, as we say goodbye for a little while.
Preceding Bob in death were his parents, Alan and Betty Brown.
Celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 1, at 11 am, at 1525 Templeton Rd, Templeton, CA.