Willard A. "Bill" Brown

SOUTH THOMASTON - Willard A. "Bill" Brown, longtime public servant, passed away Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, surrounded by his family. Born July 17, 1921, in Ducktrap, north of Lincolnville Beach, he was the son of Leroy W. and Marion "Polly" Carlson Brown. Bill attended one-room schools in Lincolnville and Hope, and graduated from Camden High School in 1939. He served his country for three years as an armorer and payroll clerk in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He met Elsie Norton at the Camden Snow Bowl in 1942 and they were married Sept. 10, 1944, in South Thomaston. He worked in construction and governmental administration until his retirement in 1982. After working for others and his own construction business, Bill was a construction foreman for Starr Brothers, Rockland, for four years. He was town manager in Monroe and Waldoboro for four years, and then worked for State Civil Defense and Public Safety for 15 years as area coordinator for the coastal counties, state shelter officer and lastly as disaster assistance officer. Upon retirement from state service, he became director of Civil Defense and Public Safety for Waldo County for six years. Bill served as first selectman of South Thomaston for 10 years and deputy sheriff in Knox and Waldo counties. He was one of the founding members of South Thomaston Fire Department, and in 1997, was presented with a plaque for 50 years of loyal and dedicated service to the town at that time. He served as fire chief for 20 years and stepped down to assistant chief in 1990, retiring from the fire department in 2006. Since retiring, Bill and family bought several houses in town that he restored. He also served as plumbing inspector, EMA director and E-911 coordinator. Very active in civic and fraternal organizations, he was a charter member of South Thomaston Lions Club since 1952 and held many local and district offices. A past master of Knox Lodge of Masons No. 189, he received his 50-year pin in 1997. He was a past-exalted ruler and life member of Rockland Lodge of Elks No. 1008, member of Wessaweskeag Historical Society and an honorary and life member of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association. He was a former member of American Legion Post No. One Rockland Voiture 31272, Forty and Eight, Knox County Fish and Game Association, South Thomaston PTA and past patron of Forget-Me-Not Chapter No. 127 Order of the Eastern Star, South Thomaston. Bill enjoyed the outdoors and had a hunting camp in Northfield for 30 years. The family also had a cottage at Swan Lake. Throughout the years, Bill maintained contact with World War II friends, traveling to Texas, Idaho, Wisconsin and Michigan, renewing these friendships. Bill was predeceased by his brother, Thurland "Ted" Brown. He is survived by his wife, Elsie; son, Wayne and his wife, Carol; a very special granddaughter, Melisa Anah; a great-grandson, Jayden Paquin; one brother, Leroy Brown, all of South Thomaston; as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland, where a funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday. A reception will be afterward at 104 Limerock Street. Interment will be private at Village Cemetery, South Thomaston. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bill may be made toward student scholarships to South Thomaston Lions Club, P.O. Box 254, South Thomaston, ME 04858.