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<h1 color="gold" class="Heading-sc-4h3nqe-0 eqWMma">WILLIAM BROWN
OBITUARY</h1>
<p color="neutral75" data-component="ObituaryParagraph"
class="Paragraph-sc-osiab4-0
ObituaryText___StyledParagraph-sc-12f7zd1-0 jodDEO jfjwAE">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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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<div color="neutral75" data-component="ObituaryEndorsementText"
class="Box-sc-ucqo0b-0 Text-sc-8i5r1a-0 gHxPez gacyGL">Published
by AL.com from Apr. 9 to Apr. 10, 2023.</div>
<div color="neutral75" data-component="ObituaryEndorsementText"
class="Box-sc-ucqo0b-0 Text-sc-8i5r1a-0 gHxPez gacyGL"><br>
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<div color="neutral75" data-component="ObituaryEndorsementText"
class="Box-sc-ucqo0b-0 Text-sc-8i5r1a-0 gHxPez gacyGL">=====================================================</div>
<div color="neutral75" data-component="ObituaryEndorsementText"
class="Box-sc-ucqo0b-0 Text-sc-8i5r1a-0 gHxPez gacyGL"><br>
</div>
<div color="neutral75" data-component="ObituaryEndorsementText"
class="Box-sc-ucqo0b-0 Text-sc-8i5r1a-0 gHxPez gacyGL">Thanks to
Bill King for news and link: <a
href="https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/huntsville/name/william-brown-obituary?id=51597825"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/huntsville/name/william-brown-obituary?id=51597825</a>
<br>
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