Obituaries

Roger was born in Yankton, South Dakota (he liked to say “Home of Lawrence Welk”) on October 12, 1943 to Forrest “Pappy” Brower, WWII Marine Corps Ace, and Margaret Linde Brower, both from Nebraska. Roger loved the story of how his father actually decked out Greg “Pappy” Boyington (famous Marine Corp Ace and legend) at a Pacific theater “Office Club” over the use of the name “Pappy.” Roger’s father maintained that he became a “Pappy” first.Roger spent his young life as Boy Scout and traveled all over the U.S. as a military “brat.” He shared his father’s passion for aviation and also became a train buff.Roger graduated from Santa Ana Valley High School in 1962. He went on to Santa Ana Junior College and studied journalism and photography. There is documented proof that he crashed the World Series in 1962 as a journalism project, and he became familiar with famous journalists and announcer Vin Scully. He received an award from the Orange County Press Club and it was presented by “Gypsy” Rose Lee.In 1965, Roger enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served 24 years as an aviation mechanic and avionics/warfare specialist during the Vietnam era. During 14 years in the Reserves he had the excitement of flying DC-6/C-118 aircraft all over South America and Europe, and loved sharing his adventures. Roger also was in the Civil Service supporting the Navy Reserves as an Avionics Supervisor until his retirement in 1998.Roger had his pilot’s license and held certificates for Private, Commercial, A&P and FCC. He owned Beech T-34 Mentor and was a member of the T-34 Association.Roger was a mechanic crewmember, photojournalist and race radio frequency manager at the Reno Air Races for over 35 years. He crewed on various unlimited class airplanes such as the P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, P-38 Lightning and Yak 11. Most recently Roger crewed with his wife Sally and friend Bob Brown on award winning Formula Bi-plane class airplanes. One of them earned a prestigious “Pulitzer” Award in Aviation.Roger’s other passion was railroading. He was involved with the restoration of locomotive 2472 and vintage railroad cars and a caboose in Northern California. He also was a conductor/crew chief on many privately owned or museum train excursions such as the Gilroy Garlic Train. Roger and his wife Sally became involved with the restoration and operation of the 1892 Porter steam locomotive at the Fillmore and Western Railway.Roger married his wife Sally in 1996 in Oakland, CA onboard a vintage United DC-6 airliner that they were restoring at the Oakland United Maintenance Facility.Roger and Sally relocated to Santa Paula in 1999 and became very active in their local community as volunteers. They loved Santa Paula Airport, and manned the Radio Hangar on the First Sundays at the Airport with good friends Skip Dunham and Dale Donaldson. They were involved with the CAF at Camarillo Airport, and with the EC-121 Connie and Martin 404 airliner.Roger is survived by his wife, Sally Knight; sisters Beth Brower and Mary Abelow; brother Rick Brower and his wife Ursula; nieces Megan, Katie, Alexis and Camille; great-niece Charlotte; and cousins Thomas Lynde of Lancaster, Meg Lag of Camarillo, Patty Foord of Monterey and Kathy DesLauriers of Los Angeles.Roger had a recurring dream,It was as strange as it may seem.On a park bench sat his dadand friend Wayne,They both were in heavenand said it was a shame,That Roger won’t yet join them in their heavenly terrain.So back came Roger to his earthly abode,To “Go enjoy more of Life!” as they both had told.Then one day they appeared one last time in his peaceful slumber,To come away with them and be “right in the number!”When the Saints go marching in!- By Sally KnightA memorial service will be held at the Phoenix Flight hangar at Santa Paula Airport August 8 at 6 p.m., with the scattering of his ashes over South Mountain. A reception and a celebration of his life will follow at the same location. All are welcome to attend.Arrangements under the direction of Skillin Carroll Mortuary, 805/ 525-3391.Sharon Ann CrismanSharon Ann Crisman, age 65, passed away at home Wednesday morning, July 29, 2009 in Bullhead City, Arizona. She was born to Meddie and Robert Leachman in Compton, CA on July 16, 1944. Only five months later, her father died in WWII action at the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.When Sharon’s mother remarried, she was adopted by Ted Zitar and was raised in South Gate, CA. After a series of moves in her teens, her family arrived in Santa Paula her sophomore high school year. They bought a home on Santa Paula’s west end and lived in the same house for 39 years.Sharon worked 14 years for Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, two years at Peterson Medical Clinic, and 16 years as Medical/Medicare Billing Supervisor for the County of Ventura, retiring in 2003.Sharon always wanted to retire in Las Vegas, but when the population exploded there it changed her destination to Laughlin/Bullhead City. Since moving to Bullhead City in 2005 she could be found in the Bingo Rooms every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, along with her many friends she met there.Sharon loved travel, with many trips to Hawaii, and several cruises to Alaska, Mexico and the Caribbean and, her favorite, to the Mediterranean. She especially loved Rome.Sharon is survived by her husband Gordon; daughter Kimberly Darbison and her husband Dan, and granddaughter Amber and grandson Scott of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; daughter Meredith Torres and her husband Richard, and granddaughter Heather Hurst of Santa Paula, CA; brother Bob Zitar and his wife Marilyn, and nephew Robbie of Palos Verdes, CA; and many extended family members and friends in the Santa Paula-Ventura County area.It was her request for private cremation and no services.