William F. Brown, Sr. 1919-2010

William F. Brown passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, September 6, 2010. We loved our Dad and Papa. He will be dearly missed and we will hold his memory close to our hearts forever. Papa had a positive influence on all of us. We are extremely grateful for his life and his example of honesty, integrity and high moral character.

Bill was born November 29, 1919 in Tampa, Florida and was the only child of Charles and Meda Brown. When he was a young child, the family relocated to the state of Ohio. He grew up in the Blue Ash and St. Bernard suburbs of Cincinnati. Graduating from Sycamore Union High School in 1939, he excelled academically as well as lettering in basketball and football. In high school, Bill also learned to play the game of golf. He enjoyed the sport immensely spending weekends and summers caddying at the Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio. He had the privilege to caddy for Sammy Snead and other golf legends during his years at the golf club.

In 1937, Bill began working for Towsley Truck, Inc., in the machine shop as a laborer. As he learned the skill of welding, he developed a zeal for welding engineering and metallurgy. Due to his excellent work ethic, he was promoted to Superintendent in charge of the Metal and Welding Department. Towsley Truck Inc. commended Bill for his honesty, integrity and his willingness to work under any and all conditions.

Bill met Mary Catherine Boring while they were both serving in the army during World War II. At that time, Bill was also a welding instructor at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. After a brief courtship, they were married on July 8, 1944 in Aberdeen, Maryland.

In 1951, Bill and Mary moved to Columbus, Ohio where Bill attended Ohio State University. He graduated in 1955 with three major accomplishments: a Bachelor of Science Degree in Welding Engineering, a Professional Engineering License, and a family of four children with his wife Mary. Bill excelled in academics and earned many scholarships during his university years. He worked in the engineering lab and taught welding theory part time.

After graduation, Bill worked for General Electric GE in Cincinnati, Ohio until transferring to GE Hanford, in Richland, WA, in 1961. When GE left Hanford, he went to work for Battelle Northwest and finally to Westinghouse Hanford, both in Richland, WA. Bill was a Fellow Engineer working at Westinghouse when he retired in 1989.

Throughout his career, Bill had many patents and was recognized for many technical accomplishments. At Westinghouse, he was responsible for the development of the Pulse Magnetic Welding Machine. The pulse magnetic process was successful in producing welds within stainless steel fuel pin rods for the FFTF Reactor. He later represented Westinghouse Hanford taking the pulse magnetic welding process to Japan, his last great accomplishment before retiring. Bill was a member of the American Society for Metals, the American Welding Society, and the American Nuclear Society.

In the midst of all his career success, one more child was added to the family. Thomas David was born December 29, 1968, when Bill was 50 years old. The new baby boy was a wonderful surprise and a tremendous blessing to both.

Our father had many technical achievements throughout his career and enjoyed his years of research and development in the field of welding engineering. Yet, above all of his career accomplishments, our Dad wanted to be remembered as a man devoted to his family and in love with his wife of 66 years, Mary.

Bill is survived by his loving wife and five children: Regina Flowers, Francine Albaugh, Bill Brown, Michelle Meyer, and Tom Brown. There are nine grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.

The Memorial Service will be held Sunday, September 19, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at Einan's Funeral Home. There will be a Celebration Reception following the memorial service at the Sunset Event Center.

We appreciated all the Total Care caregivers who diligently and lovingly worked around the clock to provide for all of Bill's needs and comfort.

We would also like to thank the entire Hospice team. Bill and our family were truly blessed by their professional care and counsel.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice, 2108 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336