William Richard Brown Jr.

William R. “Bill” Brown William R. “Bill” Brown, 69, of Palm Harbor, Fla. and formerly of Peoria, died early Thursday morning, Jan. 28, after he suddenly fell ill Wednesday night. Born Jan. 11, 1947 to William R. and Margaret (Gaver) in Peoria, Bill and his younger brothers, Tommy and Mark, were raised in Hanna City by his Grandma Dora Brown and his Aunt Betty Brown, all of whom preceded him in death. Bill married the love of his life, Carol A. Daly, on August 23, 1969 at First Methodist Church in Peoria. Carol survives, along with several of his cousins, including cousin Dorothy, who was raised with Bill. Numerous cherished nieces, nephews and in-laws also survive. Shortly after graduating from Farmington High School in 1965, Bill proudly served his country as an MP at West Point and in Vietnam. After his honorable discharge in 1968, Bill began his apprenticeship as a sprinkler fitter. Within the year he joined PIPCO, where he felt like family and remained for his career. Following his reluctant, early retirement due to back issues, Bill and Carol moved to Florida full-time in July 2004. From an early age, Bill was an avid fisherman and delighted in his prized catches. He also loved to golf, and was known for his superb putting skills, and his head-to-toe, coordinating golf “outfits.” While his back no longer let him play, he still loved the game and would literally count down the days between majors, especially the Masters, which he felt fortunate to attend many times. Bill relished in attending events. He and Carol were long-time Bradley basketball and Illinois football season ticket holders, and followed both teams to big games. They also traveled to Cotton Bowls, Sugar Bowls, Army-Navy games, Bears games and you-name-it games, including a St. Louis Cardinals game on the first night of their honeymoon. Bill also enjoyed traveling to different states for other adventures, from dozens of snow skiing vacations to an emotional visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C. He also loved hosting events to entertain family and friends. A legend on the grill and behind the bar, Bill was the consummate host with the most. He was a member of the VFW and a former member of Arrowhead Country Club, where he made many friends for a lifetime. Always with a story to tell, Bill enjoyed amusing any and all listeners by sharing tales of the exploits of his life—a life he lived to the fullest. Bill’s funeral service is at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, 2853 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater, Fla. Inurnment of ashes with military honors will take place at a later date at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Fla. Family and friends agree Super Bowl Sunday is a fitting day for Bill’s funeral service. They also agree Bill’s reaction might be summed up by one of his most famous catch phrases: “Damn the bad luck.” In lieu of flowers, you may honor Bill’s memory with a contribution to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) or the National Wildlife Federation.