Bruce Brown

Bruce Walter Brown, aged 80, of Hatfield, PA passed away peacefully on October 15, 2024, after a brief illness. Born on January 27, 1944, in Pottstown, PA, he was the youngest son of the late John Walter Brown and Margaret Smith Brown. Bruce is survived by his three siblings, Stanton R. Brown of Lakewood, WA, R. Glenn Brown of Pelham, MA, and Joan Brown Landrey of Sarasota, FL, their spouses, his seven surviving nieces and nephews, and their children. His brief marriage to Anne Hoofner ended in divorce. 

 Bruce grew up in Fairview Village, Worcester Township, and graduated from the A.D. Eisenhower High School in Norristown in 1964. Bruce continued his education at the Spring Garden Institute in Philadelphia, where he studied mechanics and metalworking. Later, he graduated from Temple University in 1973 with a B.A. in business administration. In the 1980s, Bruce returned to study mechanics and metalworking at North Montco Vocational Technical School. Before his retirement, Bruce worked for more than 30 years at Eagle Power and Electric, in Montgomeryville, PA.

 Bruce was dedicated to service. He was active in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard between 1965 and 1971. He also had a life-long fascination with flight. A licensed commercial pilot and flight instructor, he flew for the Civil Air Patrol and was a member of the PA Wings Counter Narcotics Program. Bruce was also a glider tow pilot with the Philadelphia Glider Council and a member of the Soaring Society of America.

 Bruce was a talented mechanic and an antique car enthusiast. His love for restoring old cars goes back to his childhood. In the late 1950s, he took apart the family's old Packard and returned it to working order. In 2013, Bruce picked up a wrench again to restore several antique cars for the collector Joe Rogers. He was a member of the North Penn Model A Ford Club and the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club.

 Bruce enjoyed many other hobbies. He continued flying for fun and once piloted a Waco open-cockpit biplane. He was also an avid collector of old coins, antiques, posters, and books. Trained as a marksman in the Army, Bruce took up target shooting after his honorable discharge. Bruce also loved to travel. He made many trips around the United States and visited Jamaica, Honduras, Ireland, England, and Portugal. He enjoyed Fado music and 20-year Tawny Port. Bruce had recently taken up cooking, but he also loved a good diner and was a frequent guest at Saville's Diner, The Energy Station, and Country Chef's Kitchen.

 Bruce was blessed to have lifelong friendships and was especially appreciative of the support and care extended to him during his illness by Richard Mattern, Bonnie Moser, Albert Reis, David and Sue Wood, and his neighbors. 

Bruce's sense of adventure and his plainspokenness, faith, humor, generosity, and humility will be lovingly remembered by his family and all who knew him.