Clarence Robert Brown, 82, of North Platte died Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.

Clarence was born June 9, 1924, at Farnam to Basil Douglas and Bernice Elna Wear Brown. He grew up at the 30-mile head gates southeast of Brady, and attended Union Grade School. He entered the U.S. Navy Seabees on June 14, 1943, and while on his tour of duty in the Southwest Pacific serving on Tinian, he helped build the longest airstrip at the time in the world of 6,600 feet. The Enola Gay took off from this airstrip on its way to Japan in 1945 to drop the atomic bomb. Upon his discharge from the U.S. Navy he re-entered high school at Brady and graduated with the Class of 1947.

On July 7, 1948, he married Eunice LaVaughn Willard at Hershey. Clarence worked for Pacific Fruit Express from 1951 until his retirement in June 1989.

He enjoyed fishing, music, traveling, riding his bike and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Eunice of North Platte; two daughters, Madeline Carol (Kerry) Miller of Loveland, Colo., and Gaylene Rae (Leroy) Brindle of North Platte; a sister, Audrey Hinchcliff of Shelton, Wash.; five grandchildren, Shawn, Christian, Dawn, Jason and Trina; seven great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Anita Brown of North Carolina and Lila Rapp of Kansas City, Mo.; a brother-in-law, Lynn and wife Dorothy Willard of Stapleton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Donald; and a brother-in-law, Dale Hinchcliff.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Callahan Cancer Center at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2007, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Chaplain Terry Cook officiating. Burial will be in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens in North Platte with military honors.

North Platte Telegraph, 22 Jun 2007.

Clarence is a grandson of Roy and Alice Wear.