From the Contra Costa Times, May 20, 2010:
William (Bill) Eric Brown Resident of Pleasanton William (Bill) Eric Brown, 87, passed from this life on Saturday, May 15, after bravely battling cancer.
Bill was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on March 4, 1923, to parents Eva Marie (Voorhees) and David Eric Brown. In his youth, the family moved to 2900 Carmen St. in Camden, N.J. Bill had 5 siblings: Jean, Esther, Dorothy, David, and Eva Ruth. He was the first in his family to attend college, Rutgers University.
His undergraduate education was interrupted by WWII. He joined the Army Air Corps, married Virginia Alleman (1945) and moved to Lincoln, Neb., where he was a trainer of pilots. After he was discharged he continued his education at Rutgers earning his undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees.
With his Ceramic Engineering degree, he was hired by EJ Lavino Refractory Division in Norristown, Pa. The family, including Kathryn and Wm. Frederic, moved to Norristown in 1952. Bill moved to Pleasanton in 1974 when Kaiser bought EJ Lavino. In 1978 Bill married E. Jean (Blackwell) Leach.
Upon his retirement in 1982, Bill began pitching horseshoes with regularity at the Tri-Valley Horseshoe Club. He won many state and local tournaments, coached many members of the club, and gave untold hours to the club over the years. He made beautifully crafted wooden objects including handles for purses and weaving tools.
The family would like to thank Hope Hospice for their care of us all. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and sister Esther. Survivors are wife Jean; stepdaughters Patricia (Andrew Broadbent), and Lisa Leach; daughter Kathy (Thomas Gulya); son Bill; grandchildren Daniel, Erin, Lisa, Bethany, David, Christina, and Pearse.