A celebration of the life of
Claude Hancock Brown, Jr.
1916 - 2002

Claude was born February 18, 1916, in Kansas City, Missouri to Claude (senior) and Margaret Williamson Brown. He had a younger sister, Margaret, better known as Sis, and a younger brother, Bill. The family moved to Los Angeles, in the early 1920's, then to Eagle Rock in 1928. He played football and sang in the choir at Eagle Rock High School.

Claude graduated from Eagle Rock High School, where he had played football and sung in the school choir. He continued his education at Caltech, playing and coaching football while he earned both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering. In 1942, Claude married Elena Ruth Crossfield, a graduate of the University of California. They lived in Glendale until 1947 when they moved to Sierra Madre.

Claude worked at Lockheed, Aerojet General and General Tire, and eventually owned and operated his own businesses, manufacturing parts for the aerospace and defense industries. He then worked for several years as an engineer for various firms. When he retired, his life-long interest in model airplanes was rekindled, and he began to design, build and fly radio-controlled model airplanes. He was active in the Sierra Madre RC. Modelers Club and wrote and edited articles for RC Modeler Magazine. Several of Claude's plane designs had been featured in RCM.

Claude and Elena raised five children:
  • Kathy Brown retired from IBM and is currently a music therapist in Cleveland, Ohio
  • Kristin Hickman, a high school teacher of psychology and pageantry, lives in San Diego with her spouse, Dean Hickman, who is also a high school teacher of instrumental music and math
  • Scott Brown is a corporate marketing, computer and technology consultant in the Los Angeles area
  • Marianne Hancock-Elgin is married to Ray Elgin and they own a photography studio in Arcadia. They live in Monrovia.
  • Dixon Brown is a computer services consultant and his wife, Janette Alameda-Brown, is a cardiac nurse. They live in Laguna Hills.
Claude had three grandchildren:
  • Kip Hickman lives in Battle Creek, Michigan, and is principal trombone for the Kalamazoo Symphony
  • Resa Hickman, who lives in Santa Barbara, is a research associate in the clinical research department of a medical devices company
  • Faith Alameda Brown was recently born to Dixon and Janette

Claude's brother, Bill Brown, is a retired firefighter who lives with his wife, Bettie, in Rolling Hills Estates, where they own and operate a pre-school. Claude was pre-deceased by his wife Elena, who died in 1973, and his sister Margaret, who died in 2001.

Claude and Elena instilled a love for music, which all five children still pursue. He continued to support his children and grandchildren's activities, particularly if they involved music; he rarely missed performances.

Claude also spent a number of seasons coaching younger children in the community in Little League baseball and Junior All-American football, and until recent years, he continued to take an interest in neighborhood young people, helping with their schoolwork and attending their school events.

Claude's interests included aviation and airplanes (models and live-sized), music of many styles and periods, football and reading. He had a wonderful sense of rhythm and used it when he could by dancing. He would often sing along, hum, or whistle along to almost any familiar piece of music. He believed people should be well-rounded and gracious. He was affable and easy-going, and he always enjoyed a good conversation. The twinkle in his eye was a tell-tale sign of his sense of humor and playfulness and was evident to the very end.