William Edward Brown
29 July 1931-1 Sept. 2004
Obituary- William E. Brown born-July 29, 1931. Home to the Lord-September 1, 2004. 73+ years.
Bill was born on July 29, 1931 in Detroit to Gladys Muriel Bundy Brown and George Ernest Brown.
He was the fourth child being the younger brother of Lucile Neeve, Frederick Madison Brown and Shirley Ritter,
and the older brother of Arlene Jeffers. Frederick preceded him in death. The family was raised on the lower
west side of Detroit, where Bill graduated from Northwestern High School. He was devoted to his mom and dad.
His mom died when he was about 15 (1946) and his dad in 1969. As a youngster he saved his younger sister Arlene's
life when she almost drown when her head went into the washing machine.
Just short of his tenth birthday on June 8, 1941, he was baptized a member of the Community of Christ Church
at Central Church by Al Boos. He was confirmed that day by his uncle Bruce Brown and J Emmett Lancaster.
He attended the Troy Oaks congregation of the church at the time of his passing.
He married Grace Blondell Tosh on June 30, 1956 in Angola, Indiana. She preceded him in death. They met while
both employed at Wrigley's in Detroit. Their family was blessed with children Colleen Lloyd and William Brown.
He was proud of his four grandchildren, Coleen's son Cody Lloyd, and Bill and Michelle's Weston, Alexandra, and
Harrison Brown. The family was raised in Detroit, Westland and Taylor. Bill worked for 7-Up bottling in Redford.
He was the "7-Up Driver of the Year" in 1980. Upon retirement he worked several years for Paragon Services
delivering prepared meals for shut-ins by van. Paragon manages the Community of Christ's Senior Citizen apartment
complex Restoration Towers. He had retired from that position but was filling in fora vacationing employee at
the time of his unexpected death. He loved taking family vavctions to Northern Michigan and Mitchell's Bay,
Canada where he taught Colleen and Bill to swim and fish. Colleen remembers him on Friday nights bringing home
pizza and dented 7-Up cans for dinner. Bill was an excellent ice skater. He insisted that Colleen learn on
single blade skates rather than double bladed to strengthen her ankles. She learned at Hines Park in Southwest
Detroit.
His grandson, Cody, reported to Bill that he just got a job in a grocery store at $6 per hour. Bill commented
he earned fifty cents an hour when he started at Wrigley's.
Bill was known as a "kind and gentle" man to everyone he met. He loved baseball, fishing, and bowling. He was
a big "Detroit Red Wings" fan and resisted his grandson, Weston's, attempt to make him a Colorado Avalanche fan.
He was an avid bowler all his adult life and at age 64 bowled a perfect "300" game and was inducted into the
Bowling Hall of Fame. He taught grandson, Cody, to bowl. He loved flowers and bird watching and had two favorite
cardinals when he lived on John Hix in Westland.
Bill always has been interested in the lives of his grandchildren and his nieces and nephews. Bill spent the
last three Christmas Holidays in Texas with Bill and Michelle and grandkids. Alex is a little sad that she
never picked him as "her secret Santa", but loved going shopping with him. Son, Bill, considered Bill a great
friend and believes he inherited his "strong work ethic" from his dad. His grandson, Harrison, brought Bill to
"Show and Tell Day" at his pre-school in Dallas last year.
When son, Bill, got into his dad's car he found a full array of tapes from Ray Charles to Bruce Springsteen.
Dad, Bill, could recite entire episodes of the "Beverly Hillbillies" and "Cheers". He didn't like box potatoes
and oat meal, from his early days growing up. He was a meticulous dresser, always neat and well groomed all his
life.
He has been a great comfort and companion to his older sister Lucille. They came to church together every Sunday
and wer faithful members. Bill is a gentleperson and gentleman who will be remembered and missed.
9/4/04 HVK
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BROWN WILLIAM E September 3, 2004
September 1, 2004, age 73. Husband of the late Grace. Father of Colleen Lloyd
and Bill Brown (Michelle).
Grandfather of Cody Lloyd and Weston, Alexandra and Harrison Brown. Brother of Lucille Neeve, Arlene Jeffers and
Shirley Ritter. Funeral Service at A. J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Road (between Maple and Big Beaver)
Saturday 12:00 Noon. Family will receive friends Friday 3-9 PM. Interment White Chapel Cemetery. Memorial Tributes
Troy Oaks Community of Christ, 3830 Crooks Road, Troy, MI 48084. Obituary at www.DesmondFuneralHome.com
The Detroit News
September 3, 2004