William Oscar Brown

1934 - 2018

William "Bill" Oscar Brown, Jr.

THEN AND NOW

Leaving this world to a better place, Bill Brown, age 84, departed this life on November 18, 2018 in Akron, Ohio.

Bill was born on April 5, 1934 to William Oscar Brown and Mahala Mildred "Peg" Farnsworth Brown in Lincoln, Nebraska.

He delighted in his childhood and high school days in Jackson Heights and Crestwood, N.Y., where he grew in his lifelong love of his church, baseball, and music.

A proud native Nebraskan, he attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, where he graduated with a B.A. in History and English. He was a member and president of Theta Chi Fraternity. Here he met lovely Lynelle Adams and married her on June 3, 1955.

He studied for the ministry at Garrett Theological Seminary and went on to a lifetime of lay service to his church. He was a 50 year member of Christ United Methodist Church (later Christ Woodland) in Akron, where he was a lay leader, sang in the choir and was a devoted member of The Builders Sunday School class.

He attended an approximate 1,500 major league games as a fan of the New York (later San Francisco) Giants, then took on the challenge of rooting for the "Cubbies". When they won the World Series in 2016, in his own words, "It took the onus off my back!"

Bill worked in the insurance business for 35 years with USF&G, State Farm and Kemper and then embraced retirement by writing his autobiography entitled, "It Ain't Easy Being Brown". He used his gift to write countless handwritten thank you notes and letters of support to family and friends. He was editor of his church "e-news" and enjoyed crafting periodic short essays on his life adventures and philosophies.

He enjoyed his years as a basketball referee, acting in theater productions at North Canton Playhouse, volunteering as a radio broadcaster for the sight impaired, and for United Way of Akron. He completed a bucket list item, when at age 83, he sang the National Anthem at the Akron Rubber Ducks game. Most recently he served as spiritual life chair at his new home, Rockynol in Akron.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 63 years, Lynelle Brown; daughters, Cindy (Tom) Blomquist of Oxford, Ohio, Becky (Sergio) Posada of Durham, North Carolina; grandchildren, Daniel Blomquist, Matthew Blomquist, Nico Posada and Kaylyn Posada; brothers, Dick Brown and Steve Brown; sisters, Patti Mclntyre, Barb Imel, and Pam Wood; nieces, nephews and countless friends, old and new.

A memorial service will take place at Christ Woodland United Methodist Church, 444 N. Hawkins Avenue, Akron, Ohio on December 15, 2018 at 11 a.m. In memory of Bill, the family suggests you write a handwritten note of love, thanks or support to one of your own family members or friends.

To share a Memory, Send a Condolence or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)