[List] Obituary: Bill Brown

[Cecil Stokes]

  WILLIAM BROWN OBITUARY

William Deward "Bill" Brown was born on December 17, 1926, and passed 
away on April 6, 2023. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, 
Doris Evelyn Holmes Brown, his parents, Nida Zelma Brazelton Brown and 
Clarence Monroe Brown, and his brother Clarence Oliver Brown. He is 
survived by his sister, Earlene Brown Davis; children, Richard Holmes 
Brown (Karen), Karen Elizabeth Brown, Beverly Suzanne Brown Durborow 
(Robert), and Donna Jeanne Brown Boatwright (Rodney); grandchildren, 
Rebecca Lynn Brown Golden (Alex), Rachel Ann Brown Hill (Jarrod), 
Stephen Richard Brown (Lauren), David Holmes Brown (Rebecca), Jeremiah 
Brown Luther, Jonathan Bryant Luther (Ada), Allyson Jane Durborow Thomas 
(Alex), Michael William Durborow (Rachel), Megan Joy Boatwright Cowley 
(Jacob), Bethany Lenn Boatwright Tabailloux (Timothee), and Benjamin 
Wade Boatwright (Aimie); and 13 great-grandchildren.

Bill was born in Huntsville, Alabama. He was raised in Huntsville's 
Merrimack Mill Village and graduated from Joe Bradley School in 1945. He 
enlisted in the US Maritime Service during World War II and served on a 
number of ships in both the Atlantic and Pacific. He worked his way 
through college in the Co-Op program and graduated from Alabama 
Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) in 1951 with a Bachelor of 
Chemical Engineering, becoming the first member of his family to earn a 
university degree.

Following graduation, Bill worked as a chemical engineer from 1951 to 
1960 at Ordnance Missile Laboratories, Northrop Aircraft, Thiokol, and 
Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA). He was involved with ABMA's 
transfer to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to 
create Marshall Space Flight Center on Redstone Arsenal, AL in 1960. He 
was Deputy Manager and then Manager of the Saturn Engine Program Office 
where he was part of Dr. Wernher von Braun's team. Bill was responsible 
for all the booster engines that took Apollo astronauts to the moon. 
After Apollo, he was the first Manager of the Space Shuttle Main Engine 
Program Office. Following retirement from NASA in 1976, Bill continued 
working in technical program management with Wyle Laboratories, ARO 
Incorporated, DB Associates, an independent consulting engineer, and an 
entrepreneur. Later, he worked in real estate and housing restoration.

Bill married his childhood friend and fellow Auburn graduate, Doris 
Holmes, in 1951. They raised four children, Richard, Karen, Beverly, and 
Donna, who all graduated from Grissom High School and went on to earn 
graduate degrees from a variety of universities. He taught the entire 
family to be staunch Auburn Tiger supporters and thoroughly enjoyed 
college football.

Bill loved the Tennessee River where he swam, fished, and taught his 
children and grandchildren to waterski. He continued to waterski until 
he was 83. An avid scuba diver, he was particularly fond of drift dives 
at Cozumel. Bill learned to fly in a Piper Cub. He was a private pilot 
and often flew himself on business trips. Friends and family enjoyed 
delicious honey from Bill's beehives.

Bill and Doris were faithful members of Whitesburg Baptist Church from 
1960 to 1970 and then Willowbrook Baptist Church from 1970 until their 
passing. Bill served as deacon, chairman of deacons, and a trustee at 
Willowbrook Baptist Church.

Bill was involved in civic life through the Kiwanis where he served a 
term as president. He also supported the Downtown Rescue Mission and 
similar organizations. His home restoration business became a platform 
to employ those struggling with life's circumstances.

Bill always had a positive outlook on life, loved and supported his 
family, loved people, and lived his Christian faith. These are the gifts 
that he left us. His was a life well lived.

Visitation will be at Willowbrook Baptist Church from 10 to 11 a.m. on 
Monday, April 10, 2023, with the funeral service immediately following. 
Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.

Published by AL.com from Apr. 9 to Apr. 10, 2023.

=====================================================

Thanks to Bill King for news and link: 
https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/huntsville/name/william-brown-obituary?id=51597825 

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