William Clay Brown
February 15, 1915 - May 9, 2009
Biography
William Clay Brown was born on February 15, 1915, in Forrest, Indiana. He was the eldest son of Millard Spicer and Lillian(Walters). His older sister Phyllis Pinnell (Clyde) and younger brother John (Jack) Brown are both deceased. Bill graduated from Ohio State with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.. On September 24, 1940, he married Thelma Leota Stump and they moved to Urbana, Ohio, where Bill began work at a local hatchery. They soon bought a farm in rural Champaign county and Bill began working as a brakeman in Bellefontaine, Ohio at the New York Central railroad yard. After 18 years of service, Bill was laid off and returned to poultry as a farm manager at "Dad ‘N’ Lad’s Cackleberry Farm" in rural Hilliard, Ohio, in 1962. Two years later, Bill transferred to rural Napoleon, Ohio as assistant manager at the Neuhaesuer Farms located in Henry County. Bill retired in 1977 and lived in Shunk, Ohio, until 1993 when he moved to the city of Napoleon.
Bill was active as a leader in the Malinta Cub Scouts, a member of the SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America) and several positions of service at his church, First Church of Christ, Napoleon. Bill served as the Henry County coordinator for the Red Cross Bloodmobile for several years. He and his wife Thelma, also spent many years visiting four area nursing homes and showing their vacation slides to the residents. Bill was well known for his green thumb and his yard and garden in Shunk was a showplace. He also took care of the flower beds at Henry County Hospital for several years.
Bill was also the proud father of Judith Ann Norris (Lewis) of Coshocton, OH, Thomas William Brown (Ruby), Joyce Susan Couts of Marlton, NJ and Millard Eugene Brown. Thomas and Millard are both deceased.
He was a grandfather of Apryl Fowler (Roland) of Lexington, Kentucky, Karan Levering (Todd) of Columbus, Ohio, Charity Couts, Marlton, NJ, and Kelly Norris, Waterville, OH. Bill also was great-grandfather of eight.
Bill passed away Saturday, May 9, after residing at The Lutheran Home for one year with his wife, Thelma, who survives him.
Visitation will be at Walker Mortuary, Napoleon, Tuesday May 12 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral service will be at the First Church of Christ, 800 Glenwood Avenue, Napoleon, on Wednesday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. Memorials can be made to the First Church of Christ or Mt. Carmel High School, Vancleve, Kentucky.
Facts
Born: February 15, 1915
Place of Birth: Forrest, Indiana
Death: May 9, 2009
Place of Death: Napoleon, Ohio
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