Bill Brown

William J. "Bill" Brown, 78 years, a resident of Elkins, passed away Friday, January 10, 2025 at his home surrounded by his family under the care of West Virginia Caring Hospice. He was born in Flemington, WV, a son of the late George and Josephine Isabella Brown. Also preceding him in death were his brother Tom Brown and sister Georgia Anne Williams along with her husband Robert "Bob" Williams. On November 30, 1968 he was married at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Elkins to Brenda J. Gainer, who survives. Bill and Brenda had a deeply loving relationship filled with lots of laughter, oldies music, cruising in his favorite cars and dancing. They had just celebrated their fifty-sixth wedding anniversary. Also surviving are his two daughters, Christine A. "Toni" Ness, husband Andrew of Glen Allen, VA, and Alexandria J. "Alex" Zopp, husband Bart of Elkins; four grandchildren (his pride and joy), Alexander Ness, Laurel Ness, Jarrette Zopp and Kaci Zopp; his late brother's wife Barbara S. Brown; several nieces and a nephew; and Jay W. Gainer, whom he regarded as one of his own. At the age of six, Bill and his grandmother moved to Elkins to be with his family and attend school. He was a proud graduate of Elkins High School Class of 1965. He also graduated from Pepsi Cola Marketing Schools and Exxon Business Forums and received an Honorary Degree in 1993 from the University of Hard Knocks affiliated with Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, WV. He was Master Sgt. in the West Virginia Army National Guard, honorably discharged in 1985. Over the years, Bill and Tom along with Brenda and Barbara owned several successful businesses and the Brown Family was actively involved in the Elkins community. Bill was President and Co-Owner of Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Elkins until it was sold in 1984. He was Vice President and Co-Owner of General Distributing from 1984 until it was sold in 1988. He was the President and Co-Owner of Hess Oil Company from 1987 until it was sold December 2006. He was Co-Owner of Brown Family Enterprise from 1988 to 2006. Bill also served as Limited Partner of Schoolhouse LLC; General Partner of Treehouse LLC; Limited Partner of Elkins Builder Supply LLC; Limited Partner of Elkins Builders Concrete LLC; and General Partner Brown Rental Group LLC. He had been involved in several civic organizations, which included, Past Vice President of Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce; Past Commissioner of Pop Warner Little League Football; Exhausted Rooster of the Jaycees; Past Assistant Director of the Mountain State Forest Festival; Past YMCA Foundation Board; Past President and Board Member of the Elkins Rotary Club; Past Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Davis Memorial Hospital; Past Vice President of the Elkins Regional Convalescent Hospital; Past Board of Trustees of First United Methodist Church; Past Treasurer of Alumnae of Sigma Phi Epsilon at Davis and Elkins College; Past State President and Board Member of WV Oil Marketers & Gasoline Association; and Past Board Member of the Snowshoe Foundation. He was a member of the Citizens Bank of West Virginia Board of Directors; Citizens Financial Corporation Board of Directors; BPOE Lodge No. 1135; HW Daniels Post 29 American Legion; Fraternal Order of Police and the Izaak Walton League of America. Bill was named the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Business Man of the Year in 1989; received the 2010 Allohak Council of Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen; and the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber 2022 Tom Williams Award of Distinction. He had attended the First United Methodist Church in Elkins. Bill lived his life to the fullest, whistling along the way. He was the life of the party and impacted so many with his generosity, kindness and no-nonsense business advice. His relationship with his wife was truly special and he felt blessed by his family and friends. Services for Bill will be private. A public Celebration of Bill's Life will be announced at a later date. Contributions may be made in his memory to the Bill Brown Memorial Fund, c/o Citizens Bank of West Virginia, PO Box 1519, Elkins, WV 26241 for the benefit of the community that Bill so proudly supported and loved. The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for William J. "Bill" Brown. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.