Alfred Wallace Broward Jr.

Alfred Wallace Broward, Jr. was born April 15, 1931, at the old Los Angeles Hospital in L.A. to parents, Alfred Wallace Sr. and Elizabeth Minnie Hypsch Broward. The family lived in Inglewood, California. They bought property in Downey, Ca. & with the help of family built a home at 8531 Boyson St. The family grew to three boys, Paul Henry, Alfred Wallace, Jr. & Ronald Douglas. All three attended Downey Schools, Alameda Elementary, Downey Jr. High School & Downey Senior High School.

Alfred graduated from Downey Union High School in 1949. In his Senior Year he participated in sports & played football. He worked after school for the Downey Municipal Water Co. When President Truman reactivated the draft, many Downey Alums joined the Compton Marine Corps Reserves. When the Korean War broke out, they were sent to Korea from San Diego on the USS Marine Phoenix. They arrived in Kobe, Japan where a Typhoon was in progress. The Marines took shelter in a large warehouse until the storm blew over. their ship capsized. From Kobe, they were sent to Wamido, a little Island off the Coast of Korea. The Marines took the Island in eighty-four minutes & went on to be a part of the invasion of the Inchon Landing, then Seoul & the Frozen Chosen Reservoir. They were 50 miles from the Manchurian Border when President Truman ordered General MacArthur not to go into China. Consequently, we now have North and South Korea.

Alfred went to war a young, enthusiastic 19-year-old and came home a war-weary, battle-fatigued man looking aged. With the help of family & friends, he soon recovered & was thankful to be back home. He went back to work for the Downey Water Co. He renewed a friendship with a Classmate, Donna Miller & they dated from April 1952 & were married on August 9, 1952 at the Downey First Baptist Church officiated by Rev. William Christie. They resided and worked in Downey until 1954 when they bought a home in East Whittier.

Alfred welcomed his son, David Alan Broward born June 27, 1955, at the Downey Community Hospital in Downey, California. He was a very proud father of a healthy baby boy. Sandra Dea Broward was born November 23, 1958. Coming from a family of all boys he was delighted to welcome a baby girl into the family.

The family lived in East Whittier, California for nine years and then moved to Newport Beach in November 1963, where they resided for 62 years. He drove daily to jobs in Los Angeles County and worked for Notthoff Plumbing Co. of Beverly Hills for over 30 years. He wore out two pickup trucks.

He joined the Newport Harbor Elks Club in the 1980's and was the Chaplain during Louis Derickson's term as Exalted Ruler. He was also part of the Greeter's Team where he made many friends. Due to failing eyesight, he became unable to attend meetings but remained a member.

His daughter was married to Michael Mindt in 1989, and they had a baby boy in 1995. He helped care for his grandson for 9 months while his parents worked. Work was slow, so Al retired in 1993. During his retirement, he completed several remodel projects on his home.

Over the years Alfred went on five cruises. The first was on the Spirit of London to Mexico, Mazatlán, Acapulco, & Puerta Villarta. Then, on two cruises to the Caribbean, a Mississippi River Cruise to Baton Rouge & Vicksburg. The last one was to the Panama Canal on the Holland America. He also made several road trips to Oregon & Kansas, as well as Mount Rushmore. Fascinated with train travel, he took two train trips: one to Kansas and one to Oregon.

With failing health & eyesight, he spent many years enjoying his home & family.

Alfred felt work at the Water Co. had no future, so he joined the Plumbers Union Local 78 of Los Angeles where he was an Apprentice for 5 years. He graduated as a Journeyman Plumber in 1958. He worked for Nothoff Plumbing in Beverly Hills for over 40 years with jobs for celebrities as well as high-rise buildings, The Sports Arena, Bonaventure Hotel, L.A. City Jail, Century City Twin Towers, and the Ralph M. Parsons Building in Pasadena, to name a few.