Dr. Don Claude Brown

Dr. Don C. Brown was a Unique and Amazing man who had very humble beginnings. He was born on the oil fiends of Quapa, Oklahoma on Feb. 2, 1918. His parents Claude and Cecil Brown moved often as his dad was an oil surveyor. He had one younger brother, “Daurwood”, who is deceased. Daddy was a serious Bookworm who aspired to become an M.D. His brother Daurwood was very mechanical, and could put a car back together long before daddy ever learned to drive (in college). Daurwood went on to become a top American Airline mechanic. Daddy borrowed money from a wealthy aunt for his college and medical school, and later, paid her back with interest. He was the only one in his family with a college education and beyond. What we called a “Self Made Man”! During his growing up years, mostly in Compton, Ca. he often visited Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, learning the trade of body building, tumbling, and hand balancing. He was known for the most beautiful one arm handstands (even on the top of tall building edges). This is where he formed lifelong friendships with fitness greats as Armen and Vic Tanney, John Grimmick, and Jack LaLanne. He later went on to UCLA to pursue his Medical studies. While there, he became one of the prestigious “Four Aces” on the gymnastics team (see photo) He went on to win the title of “West Coast Championship in Free Exercise” sometime in the early 30’s. Later, upon being accepted into the College of Medical Evangelists (CME) which is now Loma Linda University, he transferred to Pacific union College in Napa, to finish his pre requisites for medicine. It was during his years at P.U.C. that he would correspond by letter with Jack LaLanne to decide what they would do for the College Chapel Programs. So when Jack came to perform, he would call daddy out of the audience to come onstage and perform the tumbling, hand balancing routine with him. During daddy’s internship at White Memorial Hospital in L.A. he met my mother Eleanor Simpson. He being a poor medical student needing the blood donating money, and mother being the lab tech who drew his blood. He often wanted to donate more blood than was allowed for “Blood money”. Thus their courtship began. Mother began doing a tumbling routine with daddy and another of dad’s classmates, “P.J. Moore”. They had a three high tumbling act, with mother on the top. (see photo) They soon became engaged with dad purchasing an “Engagement Watch” with his Blood Money.Daddy fulfilled his army obligations by becoming enlisted as a Captain for the three years he was serving. They moved fairly often within the Pacific Northwest and Calif. During this time, daughter Sharon Ronelle was born on July 26, 1944 in Portland, Oregon. Dad graduated also this year from Loma Linda University in the Class of 44-B. The class was so large, that it was divided into an A & B. Son David Allen was born 2.5 years later on Dec. 26, 1946 in Pasadena, Ca. The four lived in Lynwood, Ca. where daddy set up a “Family Practice” shingle in front of their 2story Cape Cod home. For approx.. 2 years, dad pursued that venue, until he decided it was not for him. So he went back to Houston, taking classes specializing in Anesthesiology. He then began his career at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, ca. where he practiced as an Anesthesiologist for some 30 years. He quickly rose to the top of his profession, often being asked by the Mother Superior and Sisters at the hospital, as well as fellow Docs to perform their anesthesia. He was the one called to do the difficult intubations. On the day he retired at age 67, he had performed anesthesia on 550 Open Heart Surgeries alone. In 1954 the family moved to Downey, where Mother and Daddy had their unique home built. They lived there for the rest of daddy’s life, and where my mother still resides. It’s a home SO Filled with memories and memorabilia from world travels. Daddy continued his pursuit of fitness by running marathons, body building, joining the “L.A. Wheel men” where they would often cycle for 200 miles nonstop on the weekends. I remember one ride dad took from Death Valley up to Whitney Portal! About this time, daddy was asked to join the Prestigious “Adventure’s Club” of L.A. He had the most beautiful photos of his world trips and mountain climbing expeditions. He took up Mountain Climbing with a vengeance at age of 50. Inspired by Dick Basse’s famous book called “Seven Summits”. He and mother and our family always enjoyed hiking, but now Daddy took mountaineering classes and signed up for Expeditions going all over the world. Often through Mountain Travel international. His climbing included the Himalayas of Nepal, Chile, Argentina, China, Peru, Pakistan, and other countries. He would take off on these 6 week expeditions quite often, and he always came home with the most beautiful and sought after photos! His Cinematography classes at UCLA really paid off he ended up summiting Mt. Whitney twice, Mt. McKinley, Aconcagua in Chile, where he climbed twice. He also climbed very high up Peru’s Mt. Chimborazo, and Cordia Blanca. Then again in China on Mt. Moustegado. In 1987, on his third expedition to Nepal, I was so fortunate to accompany him for 6 weeks on the world’s highest and steepest trails! It was a never to be forgotten Adventure of a Lifetime! Such Majestic scenery as we viewed God’s Magnificent handiwork! I was in Awe of my dad’s strength and vigor as he just trudged up these steep mountains, part “Mountain Goat”! No one kept up with him except the Sherpa guides and they were so colorful and happy and rugged! They called my dad “The French Sherpa with strong feet” as he often wore a Beret (see photo) His last L.A. Marathon was completed at age of 87! He completed all of them, often winning first place medals in his age category, including his last. He would say, “the older I get, the less competition I have”. My parents were so fortunate to have made some 45 international trips during their lifetime together. Daddy even took my mother on his second trip to Nepal and Tibet, which was mostly sightseeing. My brother and I were so fortunate to have several international trips with them, before and during our marriages. Daddy took my brother David on a Patagonian Expedition for 3 weeks to that beautiful, rugged and awesome country. All of Dad’s life, he loved the Circus and all the wonderful acts! He became a real Circus Buff, and when it came to town, would attend every night with his close up camera, filming the best juggling, high trapeze, balancing acts. Through the years, he got to know the performers. When in town, they would come see us and perform their juggling etc acts in our home! That is why my folks built such high beams and rafters in our ceilings. He even learned a little juggling and would perform as he visited the circus, all dressed up in his professional clown make up and costume! He and mother became good friends with the Best of the World’s performers! Mother and Daddy also joined the Magic Castle in Hollywood, where they took some “Slight of Hand” classes. They got to know the Best of the Magicians and became good friends with the Top Magicians in the World, Channing Pollack. He later had a command performance before the Queen of England! He would perform his Amazing “DISAPPEARING CARDS” act in front of a mirror at my parent’s home, while dad was filming it up close! You still could not see any slight of hand! The Magic Castle heard of these photos and asked dad for the film, making my parents honorary lifetime members. As my brother recently put it: “Our childhood was filled with Awe! Seeing the world’s top performers in our own home, Hammond Organ society (my mother and I took organ lessons), piano, modeling for my mother and I, ice skating lessons for us both as well. Dad’s extreme mountaineering, so much world travels, dad’s fabulous photos, we surely have been blessed with a storied life!” We were members of the Lynwood SDA Church for years, where mother worked hard planning the Sabbath School lessons and planning other activities. Later, when the Lynwood church burned down, we joined the Garden Grove SDA Church, where my parents have been members up until now. We still have many dear friends from these early years who have blessed our lives so much! After daddy retired, mother and daddy continued to travel and enjoy life, even up to our last foreign trip in March of 2014 (ages 90 and 96)! They took Don and I plus our sons and wives on a wonderful 2 week Tauck Tour to Scotland and England. (see photo of dad in his Scottish kilt) He was SO proud of that Kilt and posed with the biggest smile as many tourists took photos of him all dressed up in his kilt! They must have thought he was Edinburg’s official greeter, even though my mother is the one with Scottish blood. Daddy was part Doc and part Clown, as a friend recently said. He loved making people laugh, especially in his later years when he became more mellow. He loved his corny jokes and wild socks, often un-matched, just to get a rise. He would pull his pant legs up to show off the wild socks! He was indeed a REAL CHARACTER! Daddy and mother were (Are for my mother), very close to their 8 grandchildren and 11 great grand children. They were affectionately called “Beepa and Maer” by my sons and grand kids, ( stemming from very early names that just stuck with them). We as a family, including my brother’s family, and my folks, enjoyed several nice family vacations together which will forever evoke SPECIAL MEMORIES! When daddy was in his mid- nineties, we would tease him that he was in his Second Childhood! He was SO ticklish and would giggle even before you tickled him! He would laugh so hard at silly toys that squeaked, like his pink pig that would squeak when squeezed. He loved wearing silly hats and ordering “frog legs” in a restaurant, though I doubt he ever even tasted them! He and I had a Pig Collection, where we would share some kind of a pig. His latest one, that his oldest grandson David bought for him, would always bring a smile as he constantly squeezed it to get a laugh! David and Corrina often spoiled he and my mom, which they do for all of us! Those last few months of his life, he was often surrounded by family, grand kids and great grand kids. After suffering his last stroke, daddy died peacefully in his sleep on Sabbath Jan. 28 at 5am when he went to be with his Lord. I am SO thankful I got to spend the last day and night of his life with him, holding his hand while telling him how much he was loved by all and praying with him and singing hymns. I told him “We would see him in heaven at that wonderful Heavenly Reunion”. He will be missed so very much by all who knew him! We are so happy “that we have this hope”, that death here on earth is NOT the end of the story! I love this quote from a friend: “Breathe in, feel his presence, breathe out, share his life”. Memorial Fund donations can be made to the GARDEN GROVE SDA CHURCH for the Audio Visual Dept. http://www.gardengrovesda.com/online-giving

Dr. Don Claude Brown

February 2, 1918 - January 28, 2017

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Dr. Don Claude Brown

February 2, 1918 - January 28, 2017

COVID-19

Flowers & Gifts

Grief & Healing

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About Us

Obituaries

What We Do

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365 Days of Grief Support