Wilbur A. "Bill" Brown

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Wilbur A. "Bill" Brown, 85, Savannah, Mo., formerly of Brookfield, Mo., passed from this life on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at Heartland Hospital, St. Joseph. He was born June 28, 1923, in Chicago, Ill.

Bill was a corporal with the United States Air Force during World War II. Bill married Margaret (Eaton) on Jan. 16, 1943, in St. Louis, Mo. He worked as a safety engineer for Western and Safeco Insurance Company for 28 years, retiring in1986. Bill also was a deputy for Linn County Sheriff's Department for 23 years, retiring in 1992.

He then was a juvenile officer in Linn County for four years. He was a member of the Mason Lodge and Scottish Rite Bodies in Fort Scott, Kansas and the Ararat Shrine Temple, Kansas City, Mo., for more than 50 years. Bill was of the Methodist Faith.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Brown and Willa (Nichols) Brown Etherton; a son, Richard Brown and a brother, Roy Brow Jr.

Survivors include his loving wife of 66 years, Margaret Brown, of the home; son and daughter-in-law, Douglas and Kathy Brown, Savannah; brother-in-law and his wife, Dean and Donna Eaton, Milpitas, California; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside celebration and interment will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Savannah Cemetery, Savannah. Public viewing and family receiving hours noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday at Breit-Hawkins & Gladden Funeral Home, Savannah.

The family suggests memorials to the American Lung Association.