George Bernard Brain, 92, of Ellensburg, passed away Thursday, July 14, 2011, at Kittitas Valley Health and Rehab Center.
Brain was born April 25, 1919, in Thorp, Wash., to George A. and Pearl (Ellison) Brain. He attended Thorp schools, Central Washington State University and received his PhD in Education from Columbia University.
Brain taught in Yakima and Ellensburg. He was a nationally noted educator, a devoted family man and a lifelong Marine. He devoted his life to the education of students across the country.
His journey began in Yakima and finished as the dean of Washington State University’s College of Education.
Upon his retirement, WSU’s education library was named after him, in his honor of his service to the university and education.
He served in World War II as a Marine Corps Japanese language officer. He received the Iwo Jima Medal and served in the Marine Corps Reserve after the war.
He lived his life by and instilled in his family the Marine Corps code of honor and proudly wore his Marine Corps baseball cap until the day he passed away.
Since 1980, Brain spent his retirement years in Ellensburg. As a family man, he devoted his life to his family, nieces and nephews. There was never a problem that he could not help with nor a request to great to grant.
George is survived by his wife Harriet, of Ellensburg, son George of Tacoma, and daughter Marylou (Michael) Seeman of Spokane, three grandchildren, two great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
The family is so thankful to have had you as a role model. “Semper Fi, We love you dad.”
Family graveside inurnment service with military honors will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2011, at I.O.O. F. Cemetery. The family has established a Dr. Brain scholarship program at WSU, to help students in their pursuit of advanced degrees in education. Memorials to that scholarship program can be sent to Affordable Funeral Care, 101 E. 2nd Ave., Ellensburg, WA. 98926.