Roy William Brown

Roy William Brown, age 78, of Redondo Beach, CA passed to eternal rest on September 28, 2023, after sustaining a stroke.  Roy was born on September 19, 1945, in Deadwood, SD, to William C. Brown and Evelyn Anna (Blair).  He resided in Western SD during his young life where his family on both sides resided and had deep ties to ranching and businesses in the area.  In 1953, he moved to Prescott, AZ, with his parents and siblings where he attended school until graduating high school.  He returned to SD to attend the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1963, earning his degree in Electrical Engineering and enjoying time with his fraternity brothers in Delta Sigma Phi.  During college, he met a nursing student, Sonja Anderson, who was doing a rotation in the area.  They fell in love and were married in June 1967 after both of their graduations.  They moved to the East Coast to take a job with GE in Pennsylvania, followed by his entering his military service and posting in Alexandria, Virginia and Lincoln, Massachusetts.  In 1969, he was called to serve in Vietnam as part of the Army Corp of Engineers and he completed his tour of duty there a year later.  Sonja and Roy returned to Rapid City, SD in 1970 before Roy accepted a job in El Segundo, California at Hughes Aircraft Company, moving to California in 1972.  Roy and Sonja have four children – Bridget Ann (Brown) Norambuena, David Andrew Konsbruck, Daniel Wayne Brown, and Bryan William Brown that they raised in their beloved community of Santa Monica, CA. 

Roy worked as an aerospace engineer and developed infrared scanning devices used for Navy Fighter Jets starting in the 1970s.  He was an avid athlete and outdoorsman. He completed many marathons (including the inaugural LA Marathon), ultramarathons, and 200-mile bike races.  He was passionate about the Sierra Nevada Mountains– hiking the John Muir Trail, many parts of the California section of the Pacific Crest Trail and spending every summer enjoying June Lake.  He visited most National Parks in the Western United States and conquered the most challenging hikes in all of them.  In 2000, he retired from his job to an active retired life and moved to Redondo Beach, CA in 2004. 

Roy has 8 grandchildren that were his focus in retirement, and he could often be found at sporting events, school performances, or babysitting them.  Many people in Redondo Beach were used to seeing him run along the bike path or walk along the Esplanade or Farmer’s Market with his wife.  During the past 7 years, Roy has been in declining health but that did not stop him from enjoying his life – Sunday Dinners, birthday gatherings, holiday celebrations, and engaging in discussions about politics, sports, and life philosophy with his family.  A lifelong football fanatic, he was introduced to Fantasy Football by his son, Bryan, and grandson, Nick, in the past few years and developed a new passion and use for his brilliant mind. 

Roy was preceded in death by both of his parents, his daughter-in-law, Cindy Brown, his sister-in-law, Cynthia Hanson, and his brother-in-law, Gordon Wing.  He is survived by his wife, Sonja (Anderson) Brown, his daughter Bridget (Brown) Norambuena, his sons David Konsbruck, Daniel Brown, and Bryan Brown.  Additionally, he is mourned by his son in law, Roberto Norambuena, and his daughters in law, April Brown, and Claudia Brown. His eight grandchildren survive him: Nicholas Norambuena, Matthew Norambuena, Caleigh Norambuena, Alexander Brown, Ethan Brown, Caitlynn Brown, Lia Brown, and Nathan Brown. Additionally, he is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Francis and Pom Brown; his sister, Barbara Wing; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Wayne and Debra Anderson; his nephew, Tyrus Brown, and his niece, Ryann Anderson. 

Roy will be buried with full military honors at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood, CA on October 27, 2023, at 11:30am followed by a celebration of life gathering in his memory in Santa Monica, CA.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roy William Brown, please visit our floral store.