Edward, or Ed as he was known by his friends and family, was born March 5, 1926 in El Paso, Texas to Henry and Marjorie Brown. Growing up in El Paso, he graduated from Austin High School. He attended college at University of New Mexico under the US Navy V-12 program to become a Naval officer. His love of flying led to his transfer to the Navy V-5 program for the Naval Air Force at St. Mary’s College. He later transferred to the Naval Air Station at Alameda, California. World War II ended before his training was completed, so he returned to civilian life as a student at USC. While a student there, he married his childhood sweetheart, Ruby Lee Hadlock in 1946. He finished his final year at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces attaining a degree in aeronautical engineering.
After attaining his degree, he worked for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington. While living in the Puget Sound area, he continued his love for flying, learning to fly seaplanes. He later went to work for the U.S. Government at White Sands Proving Grounds, New Mexico. And, around that time, Ed and his then brother-in-law, Quinn Boyd, tried their hands at prospecting for…uranium! Soon after, Ed was hired by Aerojet General in Azusa, California, where he worked on a number of rocket propulsion projects, including the rockets that launched our first satellites into orbit. After a 2-year transfer to Aerojet’s Washington D.C. office, he came back to California where Ed and Ruby settled in their home in Claremont, California where they remained for 33 years. In the early 1960’s Aerojet formed a new division, ITADCO, specializing in international trade and agricultural development of countries around the world. Through that project, Ed was involved in developing a modern cattle industry in Columbia, South America. This was right up Ed’s alley, as he really was a Texas cowboy at heart.
In the 1970’s, Ed left Aerojet and, with a partner, formed his own company, Clean Air Engineering, to develop vapor recovery systems. Those systems were the fore-runners of today’s gas pump vapor recovery nozzles. After his company was sold, he worked for Clayton Manufacturing as a sales representative until his retirement in 1991.
Ed loved music and he loved to dance. He played piano, ukulele and Latin percussion. He encouraged both his boys to play music and bought them their first guitars. The entire family enjoyed snow skiing and water skiing together. Ed made annual trips to Utah for deer hunting. His sons have many fond memories of camping, hunting and fishing with their dad. Ed loved and took great pride in his sons’ and grandchildren’s accomplishments and loved to spend time with them.
In 1993, after Ruby retired, they returned to their Texas roots with a final move to Pecan Plantation in Granbury, Texas. They fulfilled their dream of living on a golf course and near a place where Ed could fish and fly. Throughout the past 24 years, they have made long-lasting friendships and enjoyed themselves in their community—golfing, fishing, playing bingo and bridge. Ed took up oil painting and created some masterpieces that are treasured by his family. Ed particularly enjoyed his role as Ad Sales Manager for the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Assoc.) and membership in the BRSC (Brazos River Sportsman’s Club).
Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Jim Hadlock. He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Ruby, sister Peggy Browning (Bing) of El Paso, Texas, sister-in-law Sue Hadlock of Rancho Mirage, CA, sons Russ Brown (Karen) of Hemet, CA, Jeff Brown (Ann) of Claremont, CA, granddaughter Kimi Ogg (Mike) of Santa Rosa, CA, grandson Jeffrey Brown (Stephanie), granddaughter Lori Coughran (Steve) of Edmond, Oklahoma, grandson Adam Brown (Katherine) of Hawthorne, CA, great-granddaughter Carina Ogg, great- grandsons Kasen Coughran, Braden Ogg, and Karter Coughran, niece Karen Beck (Ken) of Mercer Island, WA, great-nephews Bryan and Carson Beck who live in Issaquah, WA, and Los Angeles, CA respectively. Two more great grandchildren are expected later this summer from his grandsons’ families.
Ed enjoyed an active life of many interests including golf, hunting, fishing, and painting. He was a proud and wonderful provider, a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather. His presence will be greatly missed by all his family and friends, but his legacy remains within all who had the pleasure to know and learn from him. Our family takes comfort in knowing that Ed was blessed with a long life filled with love. We know that Ed’s faith was strong and that he was at peace at his passing. Inurnment will take place at Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont, California at a date to be determined.
