Brown, Fred Charles "Skip"

82, of Tempe passed away on February 20, 2017. Born on April 3, 1934, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Fred J. & Helen E. (Johnson) Brown. He and his beautiful bride, Norita C. Behrendt, eloped on May 18, 1957. In Ohio, Fred worked at the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company until 1972, when he moved his family from Mentor-on-theLake to Tempe. In Arizona, he was employed by Salt River Project at various plants. He retired from SRP’s Coronado Generating Station in 1990. He and his wife filled their retirement years at their home in Tempe, a mountain cabin in Strawberry, and traveling to visit relatives across the country. Fred was a proud veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, a member of IBEW 266, and belonged to Ohio’s Willoughby Masonic Lodge 302 and Royal Arch Masons. He was a devoted husband, incredible father, grandfather & uncle. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, his daughter and son-in-law, COL Tim & Teri (Brown) Collins of Virginia, his son and daughter-in-law, Fred "Jay" & Debra (Sorrelman) Brown, Jr., of Scottsdale, his grandson and wife, Scott & Shefali (Vaz) Collins of Glendale, and two great-grandchildren, Alec & Elsa Collins. He is also survived by his best buddy and the apple of his eye, his grandson, Samuel Collins of Virginia. He will be missed by a sister-in-law, Susan (Alvord) Brown of Ohio, and nieces and nephews, Tom & Kelly (Brown) Szakal & sons, Mark & Ryan, of Ohio, Kevin & Leann (Christensen) Brown & daughter, Sylvie, of California, and Dean & Lori (Sutter) Stockman & children, Samantha, Jessica & Kyle, of Nebraska. Fred is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Allen F. Brown, a sister-in-law, Ronnie (Behrendt) Bauman, a nephew, Dale Stockman, step-father, Theodore J Dannes, and step-sister, Sr. Annamae Dannes. A celebration of life will be held in the Spring. Services with a military honor guard will be held at the National Cemetery in Phoenix. A ceremony including Masonic Rites will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to The Arc of Greater Williamsburg, 150-D Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188.