In memoriam
Alex Brewer died peacefully in his sleep of age-related causes on the morning of October 4, 2023. He was 96 years old.
Alexander Peterson Brewer, Jr. 1926-2023 Alex Brewer was born on November 25, 1926 to Madge (Rhettstatt) Brewer and Alex Peterson Brewer, Sr. in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. As a baby (known to his parents as 'Sonny'), he moved with his parents to Tampa, Florida where he grew up and graduated from Plant High School. During the closing months of WWII, he enlisted in the Army as a Private, completed his basic training, and served stateside before being released at the conclusion of the war. He graduated from Auburn University and married the love of his life, Doralee Bowen. He then re-entered the Army Air Corps (later renamed the United States Air Force when it became its own branch of the military) as a Lieutenant and served in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a navigator/bombardier, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after 26 years of military service. He flew in B-26s in combat during the Korean War, and later as a career SAC flight crew member he flew in B-47s, B-52s, and his favorite airplane, the B-58 Hustler supersonic bomber during the cold war era. As a select B-58 crew member, he served as the Chief of Bomb Navigation and instructor for the 43rd Bomb Wing until the program was cancelled. In 1969, he served a brief stint in Vietnam during the war in KC-119K gunships as a FLIR operator and combat crew member before coming home due to illness and retiring from the USAF in 1970. After retirement from the military, Alex and Doralee built a successful Amway business, and after leaving the Amway business, later they built a large Tahitian Noni Juice distribution business together that is still thriving. Alex lived a very rich life and had many remarkable experiences. From driving one of his father's race cars around a dirt track oval at breakneck speed in the 1940s to flying at Mach 2 at over 60,000 feet during the cold war, to vacationing with Doralee on a lovely Tahitiian beach, visiting Hong Kong together, and enjoying the casino in Monaco with their friends and business associates, they lived a life full of adventure and travel. In addition to his love of flying, Alex also loved to fish. With his son, Randy he made many trips to Bishop and Mammoth Lakes to fish for trout when they all lived in California. Alex often fished in the ocean near Dana Point in his boat, or on a charter boat where he would come home with yellowtail or other gamefish. A passionate car person, he shared that automotive interest with his son, Alan. You never knew what you would find in the driveway of the family home! You could be sure that on Memorial Day, Alex would be glued to the television watching the Indy 500. Many of Alex's adventures were related in detail in his book "A Navigator's Odyssey". A lifelong lover of animals (especially dogs), he greatly loved his many four-footed companions throughout his long life. Alex was preceded in death by his wife Doralee in 2004 and by his youngest son Alan in 2012. He is survived by his eldest son Randy and daughter-in-law Cheryl of Eugene, Oregon and by his two granddaughters Megan Schakols and her husband Blake Schakols of Eugene, Oregon, and Erin Inoue and her husband Koji Inoue of Portland, Oregon. His first great-grandaughter Isabel Inoue was born to Koji and Erin in December 2023, just missing him by a couple of months. Alex and Doralee Brewer are interred in a place of honor at Willamette National Cemetery, Section COL-9 Row C Site 96-D. Per his wishes, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local branch of the Humane Society.
A fitting poem for all aviators and those who loved them: High Flight by John Gillespie MaGee, Jr., along with some apropos lyrics by Joni Mitchell  Peace was our Profession...Copyright © 1994-2024 Alex P. Brewer, Jr. and Randy A. Brewer The B-58 Hustler Page B-58.com |
