BROWN: Philip Proctor , 79, valedictorian of the Class of 1940 at St. Johnsbury Academy, died Monday, April 8, 2002, at his home in Arlington, Va. He was born in St. Johnsbury, Aug. 14, 1922, the son of Harold and Mabel (Hall) Brown. In 1944, he married Randall Boyce, also of the Academy's Class of 1940. They were married for 53 years until her death in 1997. He attended college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute from 1940 to December 1943, when he received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering early along with others who signed up to serve in World War II. He joined the Navy and was sent with the Seabees to Guam, where he served throughout the war. After the war, he received a master of science degree in engineering from Princeton University. In 1948, he became an instructor at Oregon State University in Portland, Ore., and then returned to work for the Navy as a civilian in California. In 1953, he decided to come home to the East Coast and accept a position in Virginia with the Navy's Bureau of Yards and Docks, now the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. He served as the Navy's specialist in the field of geotechnical engineering, which includes building and structural foundations, waterfront construction, excavations, airfields and landslides. Much of his time was spent advising and troubleshooting on the construction of military bases in this country and overseas. His career took him to all seven continents. Following his retirement from government service in 1978 after a heart attack, he worked as a consulting engineer and served as an expert witness and arbitrator. He was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Except for a six-year period in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Amherst, Mass., he lived for the rest of his life in Virginia. Mr. Brown enjoyed tennis, golf, photography and genealogy, and was formerly a volunteer income tax counselor for the AARP and an usher at the National Cathedral in Washington. Survivors include three daughters, Deborah Schaaf of Philadelphia, Pa., Abby Thomas of Hanover, Mass., and Dory Brown of Oneonta, N.Y.; two sons, Benjamin Brown of Nellysford, Va., and Hal Brown of Arlington, Va. and Salem, Mass.; nine grandchildren; a nephew, James Brown of South Burlington; and two nieces, Jacquelyn Brown of Paisley, Fla., and Jann Simpson of Lancaster, N.H. He was predeceased by a brother, Joseph E. Brown, and a sister, Barbara O. Brown. Mr. Brown will be buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in St. Johnsbury, Saturday, May 25, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the St. Johnsbury Academy Alumni Fund, 1000 Main St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.