Billy Brown of Ridgecrest, CA passed away on August 2, 2026, one month before his 97th birthday.

Born on September 2, 1929 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, one month before the start of the Great Depression, Billy was the child of Blanche and Robert Brown.

After the loss of his father the family moved to New Mexico and worked on a ranch. It wasn’t long before they decided to head for Bakersfield, California where they learned about a Navy base in the middle of the desert.

His family moved into China Lake base housing next to the family of Claudia M. Dowda, his future wife. They were married for 75 years.

Billy began his career at China Lake as an Ordnanceman for EOD earning $1.01 per hour in 1947. In April of 1953 he was drafted into the US Army and was discharged in April 1955. He returned to China Lake as an Ammunition Inspector. In 1962 he was promoted to a Test Mechanic which led to him being a Physical Science Technician. He was later promoted to an Engineering Technician and ultimately retired in 1988 as an Engineering Technician Supervisor.

Billy loved playing softball, water skiing, fishing, riding both dirt and street motorcycles and spending time with his family. He will be remembered for his love and dedication to family, work and play.

Billy is survived by his daughters Terri Olson, Karen Cook, and Laura Coffee, son in-laws Barry Olson and Dennis Coffee; grandchildren Jacy Peckham, Heaven Bosch, Nikkia Bosch, Barry Olson Jr., Eric Olson, Amanda Jori, and Robert Coffee as well as 10 great grandchildren and one great, great, grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Claudia M. Brown, siblings Owetta Franklin, Robert L. Brown, Berl Donald Brown, George Max Brown, grandson Christopher Olson and son in-law David Cook.

A celebration of life will be held on September 12th 2026 at 11:00 AM at Crossroads Community Church located at 235 N. China Lake Blvd., Ridgecrest, Ca 93555.