William Arthur "Bill" Brink, 84, of Lompoc, CA passed away on Sunday, March 13, 2016, in Lompoc after a short battle with Parkinson's Disease.
He was born in Modesto CA on April 11, 1931 to Arthur W. and May (McMillan) Brink.
He attended schools in Modesto, and graduated from Modoc High School in Alturas CA, where the family had relocated.
After graduation, Bill spent 4 years in the US Navy during the Korean conflict, serving on the seaplane tender "Kenneth Whiting" working as both a radio and aviation electrician on various aircraft. He also attended Cal Poly before returning to Modesto.
He was married June 23, 1956 to Ann M. Jantz, whom he met in Modesto 3 months earlier by the arrangement of his aunt and her sister-in-law. Three children were born to them.
Due to his natural technical abilities he was selected for training and served for various companies on the cutting edge of computer hardware. His skills took him all over the US and to several assignments abroad before settling in Lompoc in 1977. He was known for his no-nonsense approach and innovate solutions. In 1984 he and a partner started their own company, South Coast Phoenix, and continued working at VAFB until his retirement in 1996.
Bill's lifetime passion was aviation. He learned to fly as a teenager while his father had an aviation business in Modesto. In 1977 he refreshed his flying skills and acquired a Cessna 182, which he enjoyed flying until a few years ago. He also spent many happy hours working on building his own plane, a Skyote, from scratch.
Another activity Bill enjoyed very much was spending time with family and friends at his remote cabin in the Diablo Range of central California. His friends and family will remember him most for his cheery outlook, his sense of humor and a love of a good story.
He is survived by his wife Ann and daughter Catherine; daughter Karen (Dean) Lifshay and their children Reuben, Jacob and Daniel Lifshay; and son Tom (Pamela) and their children Jason, Tamara (Dustin) Nunley and Nathan. Bill is also survived by his brother James (Minnie) Brink of Modesto CA.
A Memorial Service will be held Friday, March 25 at 2 pm at the Seventh-day Adventist church located at Chestnut and I St. in Lompoc, with refreshments after the service.