James "Jim" H. Brown, Jr., 83, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2009, at his home in Lompoc, California. He is survived by his loving wife, Erna Toevs Brown, his two daughters, Susan Anne Brown Matsumoto (Mark) and Catherine Mary Brown Iwaki (Steve), and four grandchildren, Anna Iwaki, Alex Iwaki, Ashley Matsumoto and Darin Matsumoto.

Jim was predeceased by his father, James Harrison Brown, his mother, Bernice Fairley Brown and his sister, Marjorie C. Brown.

James H. Brown, Jr., was born in Mexico, Missouri, on December 6, 1925. His family lived there until 1946 when they moved to Long Beach, California.

Jim was on the Varsity Track Team and played alto saxophone in the school band throughout high school. He was also very involved with Boy Scouts and received the honorary ranking of Eagle Scout. He spent his high school summers at Culver Military Academy and then joined the V-12 Program at Missouri Valley College and spent 20 months in NROTC at Rice Institute. He received his commission at Rice University into the U. S. Navy and served as a commissioned officer with the ranking of Ensign, serving in Guam for a year.

Jim left the Navy to continue his studies at The University of Missouri, Columbia where he received his Masters in Geology. He worked in oil shale with the USGS, then with Mobil Oil Company and the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

Jim and Erna met in her hometown of Paso Robles, California, in June 1954 and were married on December 5, 1954. Working for Mobil Oil Company Jim, Erna and their two daughters lived in various states including Colorado, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada and several cities in California eventually settling in Arcadia, California. Jim and Erna attended Arcadia Presbyterian Church where Jim was an usher and also a deacon.

In order to pursue a different career, Jim then attended California State University- Long Beach where he earned his Teacher's Credential and taught Earth Science at a high school from 1964-1965. Following that Jim and his family moved to Arcadia, California, and worked for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California until his retirement in January 1989. During his career at MWD, he worked on the California Aqueduct, which brought water from Northern California to Southern California.

Jim and Erna retired to Lompoc where they have lived since 1989, returning close to where they started their married life in Santa Maria. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Lompoc where Jim served as an usher and where both he and Erna are very involved. In the past, Jim enjoyed belonging to the Sierra Club and going on various hikes and continued exercising at the YMCA until last year due to his illness.

Jim continued to be very involved with The University of Missouri, Columbia and was also a member of Sigma XI Scientific Research Society.

Jim lived a long and wonderful life, and his family and friends will miss him very much. A Celebration of Life service will be held this Thursday, July 30, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Lompoc, located at 1600 Berkeley Drive, Lompoc, CA 93436 and officiated by Pastor Julia Leeth. A reception will immediately follow the service.

Memorial contributions can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Lompoc, 1600 Berkeley Drive, Lompoc, CA 93436, or to Marian Medical Center Foundation, 1400 E. Church Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454-9979 (Designate for Hospice).