Bill Gene Brown, age 94 passed away peacefully on December 9, 2020 with family members in attendance in Los Banos, CA.
Bill was born on June 17th, 1926 in Pawnee, Oklahoma to Marion and Violet Brown. He was one of twelve children. His family moved to Stevenson, California when he was 9 months old. In 1943 Bill’s family moved to Gustine, California.
Bill attended and graduated from Gustine Schools. A tour of active duty in the US Air Force followed his graduation Gustine High School. After his discharge from the Air Force, Bill returned to Gustine and worked for companies in the Gustine area, Avoset Company and Machado and Mellos Gas and Propane.
In 1951, Bill married the love of his life, Evelyn Coelho and moved to Los Banos. They were married for 69 years and raised three daughters.
Bill began flying for Inland Aircraft (owned by Barney Negra) as an agricultural pilot in the Los Banos Area. In 1954 Bill became a partner in Inland Aircraft. In 1962, the partners built an aircraft maintenance and engine overhaul shop, incorporated as Mid Valley Aviation. The crop-dusting part of the business was sold. In 1966 Bill bought out his partner and expanded Mid Valley Aviation to include a charter service, a flight school, aircraft rentals, aircraft maintenance and engine overhauls. In 1987 Bill discontinued the charter, rental and flight school businesses and sold the engine maintenance and engine overhaul shop in 2002. Although flying has been a great part of his life, family was always the first and the most important.
Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife Evelyn M. Brown, and his youngest daughter Janet (Brown) Setencich.
Bill is survived by two brothers, Keith Brown of Red Bluff CA, Clifford Brown of OR, a sister Barbara (Brown) Thomas of Kalispell, MT and two daughters Judy (Brown) Stahlman of Fresno, CA and Joleen (Brown) Hein of Parlier, CA.
He will be greatly missed by his family and all whose lives he has touched throughout his journey.
A private burial service will be held at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery at a future date.