In Memoriam: Frank R. Brown

Frank R. Brown

Frank R. Brown died Dec. 11 at the age of 82 in Canyon Lake after a five-year battle with multiple myeloma.

He was born Feb. 28, 1938 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Frank A. Brown and Maryetta Brown. He spent his first five years in Michigan and then the family moved to Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio. In 1953, they made their last move to the state of California, where Frank graduated from Excelsior High School in Norwalk. He participated in basketball, baseball and football.

In 1959, he joined the Army and served two years. Upon his discharge from the Army, he worked for the Operating Engineers Union until he joined the Los Angeles County Fire Department in 1966. He retired as an Assistant Division Chief in 1992. During that time, he also earned his B.A. from Los Angeles State College.

Frank met Linda Cattoir in 1961 and they married the following year. They were married for 58 years. They lived in Bellflower, Norwalk and 26 years in La Palma, where they raised their daughter Kim and son Mitch. Kim worked as a flight attendant and then went on to become a professional photographer. Mitch became a fireman and serves as a Battalion Chief at the present time for Los Angeles County Fire Department.

In 1998, Frank and Linda moved to Canyon Lake. Both joined the golf clubs and had many years of enjoyment with the golfers and other friends in Canyon Lake. They also enjoyed many trips with the Canyon Lake Travel Club.

Frank is survived by wife Linda, daughter Kim (Antoine), son Mitch (Stephanie); grandchildren Brandon, Kylie, Evan and Dylan; sister Kathy, sister-in-law Shiralyn, and many nieces and nephews.

One of Frank’s last wishes was that his daughter Kim would somehow beat her scleroderma disease and live a life without pain.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Scleroderma Foundation, Southern California Chapter in honor of Frank Brown, 8929 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite #412, Los Angeles, CA  90045.