Richard ‘Dick’ Gray Brownell

Feb. 29, 1940 — Dec. 27, 2012

Funeral services with military honors celebrating the life of Richard (Dick) Gray Brownell, 72 years, will be held Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. Mr. Brownell passed away on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, in Kaiser Hospital Medical Center in San Francisco having fought illness the past year. He was born in Woodland, California, on Feb. 29, 1940, to Lawrence and Genevieve (Gray) Brownell. He has called Vacaville home for the past 38 years. For 32 years, one could always find Richard at the library where he had been employed as a reference librarian.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mina Moye of Vacaville; daughter and son-in-law, April Aurore and Johnny Alexander Eguizabal residing in Long Beach; and sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth Ann and James Francis (Frank) Sorensen living in Junction City, Ore.

Many remember Richard from the library as always being helpful and courteous. He spent the majority of his later years involved in service for local community youth as the past President and charter member of the Optimist Club of Vacaville as well as the past Lieutenant Governor of the Pacific Central District that serves all of northern California and parts of Nevada. Naturally, he was an avid reader who led and participated in many local book discussion groups in Vacaville. He also volunteered as a book buddy bringing reading materials for people unable to travel to the library themselves. He was a supporter of literacy and the Solano County Library Foundation, and participated in many of their yearly fundraising trips around the country. Richard enjoyed a lifelong interest in table tennis, once ranking 1,000 in an international tournament. Some may not know that Richard was also a veteran of the United States Army, having served a tour of duty following the Korean Conflict in early 1960s.

Richard was, above all, a loving husband, father, and friend. We will miss his warm nature, kind heart, and most of all the laughter.

A viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at Nadeau Family Funeral Home. A Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, at Nadeau Family Funeral Home in Vacaville. A reception will follow.

A private burial with military honors will be held at a future date in Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon.

Donations may be made in the name of Richard Brownell to the Solano County Library Foundation at www.solanolibraryfoundation.org. Under his photo on the right hand side of the page, you will be able to submit your donation in his memory.