Robert L. Brown, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, March 24, 2003, at Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born May 9, 1921, at Bloomfield, Mo., son of Floyd William and Pearl Zenoba Byrd Brown. He and Wanda Lee Masters were married Nov. 22, 1967, in Cape Girardeau.

Mr. Brown was an ad composer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 37 years, retiring in 1976. He moved to Marble Hill, Mo., in 1976 and to Cape Girardeau in 1996. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II from July 23, 1942, to Oct. 26, 1945.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Dennis Brown and wife Diane of High Ridge, Mo., Brian Brown and wife Thongsy of Elgin, Ill.; two daughters, Carol Brown of House Springs, Mo., Lori Scott and husband Eric of Cape Girardeau; a beloved friend, Sue Smart of House Springs; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home after 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Ken Cook and Joel Hebert officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park, with full military rites by VFW Post 3838 and Missouri Honor Team.