Brian Frederick Emmett

BRIAN FREDERICK EMMETT

Mr. Emmett, of Fresno, was born May 31, 1933, in Croft, Leister, England, and passed away October 6, 2002. During WWII, his father was assigned an accounting job by the British government in London. Brian remembered many things about WWII - playing in bomb craters, following the War in the newspaper and on the radio - but the most indelible memory is his mother repeating the 23rd Psalm in air raid shelters while the enemy was flying overhead. Brian was the only child of Frederick and Emma Emmett. He attended King Henry VIII Grammar School in Coventry, North Yorkshire, and graduated with honors from Leeds University with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. He married the former Barbara Olfield in 1955. They had three children, Amanda Emmett, Penny Wilkinson and Christian Emmett, all of whom live in England. After working for the Coal Board for five years, Brian was employed by Pirelli Tires. Brian had a long and successful career with Pirelli. Brian was the manager of the Carlisle England plant when his wife died. Looking to make a fresh start, Brian accepted a position with Pirelli in Hanford, California. Pirelli had just bought the Armstrong Tire Company and it was Brian's job to introduce Pirelli's manufacturing methods and strict attention to quality control. It was at this time Brian met his second wife, Judith A. Sample of Fresno, while on a hike for "Outdoor Singles". Pirelli asked its "Top Gun", as he was referred to in the trade papers, to take his knowledge and good labor relations to their plant in Nashville, TN. After two years in TN, Brian returned to Fresno to marry Judith and fulfill his life long love of intellectual pursuits. Brian enrolled at Fresno State in the philosophy department. When he dropped out for health reasons, his professors referred to him as a "superb student". Brian was an Elder at St. Luke's Community Church where he was much admired for his knowledge of the Bible and the history of the Christian Church. He is survived by his wife, Judith, his three children and his two grandchildren, Alex and Poppy Wilkinson who live with their parents, Gary and Penny Wilkinson, near Leeds, England. Memorial Services will be held at St. Luke's Community Church, Fresno, Palm, north of Shields on Tuesday, October 15, 2002, at 10:30 a.m. SUNSET FUNERAL SERVICES