Ralph Leonard Brown

Fresno - Ralph Leonard Brown (he preferred Leonard) was born in Glenpool, Oklahoma on November 9, 1931 to Clarence and Lillian Brown and passed away March 30th, 2018, Good Friday, in Fresno, CA. One of eight sons and daughters, his family migrated to California during the Dust Bowl and settled in Ivanhoe. Leonard graduated from Visalia High School in 1949 and, after a year at the College of the Sequoias, joined the Air Force. He spent two years during the Korean War as an air traffic controller on Johnston Island in the South Pacific. He returned to Visalia, spent another year at COS before transferring to San Jose State College on the GI Bill where he obtained his teaching credential. Leonard started his thirty-seven year teaching career at Outside Creek, a small K-8 school in rural Visalia. He spent short stints teaching in Stockton and Lodi before returning to Visalia in the early sixties, first teaching at Mineral King, then Royal Oaks. After one year at Wasuma, a K-8 school in Ahwahnee, Leonard returned once again to Visalia Unified as part of the inaugural staff at Crestwood Elementary in 1968. He finished his teaching career at Willow Glen, retiring in 1992.

Dad's hobbies were painting - oils, water colors, and acrylics, playing the piano, and grafting fruit trees. He also enjoyed publishing booklets full of fun and creative ideas, sharing his teaching experience with other teachers.

Leonard is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Phyllis, of Fresno, a son, Randy (Kari) also from Fresno and their children, Kylie and Tyler, a son, Russ (Alicia) from Visalia, and their daughter, Aubrey, and a daughter, Elaine, also from Visalia. Leonard is also survived by a sister, Carolyn Bartlett (Barry) of Oakhurst, and numerous nieces and nephews.

All three Brown children were inspired by their father's career with all currently working in public education.

Leonard's greatest hope for all he came in contact with was that they would find a personal relationship with Jesus, his Savior. His family is greatly comforted by knowing that Leonard is safe in the arms of our Lord.

Published in Visalia Times-Delta & Tulare Advance-Register on Apr. 3, 2018