Vivian Arcoyo Brown

Vivian Benedicto Arcoyo Brown died and went to be with her maker September 10, 2026 after a fight with breast cancer. She was a courageous fighter, but, in the end, cancer was stronger than her desire to live and her doctors’ healing arts. The Lord called her and she answered His call. She died at Elizabeth House in Hendersonville, NC under the comfort care of Four Seasons Hospice.

Vivian is predeceased by her father, Paulino Garilao Arcoyo; her mother, Carmen Benedicto Arcoyo; her father-in-law, Barton Crouse Brown; and, her mother-in-law, Dorothy McCaul Ballard Brown. She is survived by her husband, Barton McCaul Brown, and her son, Barton Ian Brown. In the Philippines, she is survived by her older sister, Evelyn Arcoyo Mauricio; her brother, Joaquin (Jack) Arcoyo, and Franklin (Buck) Arcoyo. She is also survived by many nephews and nieces. For example, Judith Alice Brown and Amy Brown in the U.S. and Melissa Mauricio and Mark John Mauricio in the Philippines.

During life, Vivian bridged two worlds. She was born December 30, 1956 in a rural area on the Philippine Island of Palawan. Rising from humble beginnings, and with family support, she attended and graduated from Holy Trinity College in Puerto Princesa, Palawan with a degree in English. After teaching English for two years at the National High School in Quezon, Palawan, she transferred to the National Museum of the Philippines where she had a 17-year career. Her last assignment was as the Shrine Curator (Museum Branch Manager) at the Tabon Caves Archaeological Site in Quezon. In 1997, she came to the United States and to Hendersonville, NC with her husband. In Hendersonville, she began a new career with First Citizen’s Bank finishing as a mortgage loan closer. She then transferred to the Social Security Administration where she worked 15 years becoming a Lead Customer Service Representative.

Vivian was active in the Filipino-American Community of Western North Carolina, serving in several offices, and the Boy Scouts of America where she also took on various leadership roles. She was an avid photographer and won several prizes at the Mountain State Fair. Moreover, she was also an avid gardener. Her horticultural specialty was the day lily and her garden was the largest in her neighborhood, a mini arboretum. Always involved in projects, she made all-occasion greeting cards, gemstone jewelry, scrap books, and sewed clothes, bandanas, pillowcases, etc. She also loved to write letters, speeches, and descriptions of photographs and museum specimens. Vivian was convivial, always supported her family, was generous to her friends, and always did things with style. In the culinary arts, she was known for making an endless stream of rum cakes for her office mates and potluck parties. She was rightly proud of her Filipino heritage and proud to have been an American as well.

Vivian is with the ancestors now; and, we can be assured she’s still doing all she can in that other world to help her family and friends in this one.

Vivian’s viewing and memorial service (her luksang parangal) will be held at the Lake Julian location of the Groce Funeral Home (72 Long Shoals Road, Arden, NC 28704) on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Viewing will begin at 12:30 PM and the service will begin at 2:00 PM. Her service will be livestreamed and can be seen by visiting this page, starting at 1:55 PM on Sunday afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pardee Hospital Foundation to benefit the Cancer Center (www.pardeehospitalfoundation.org).

Vivian will be buried in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC at a later date.