William Brown

L. Brown, Seiling, Oklahoma, preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Harry E. and

McLain R. of Seiling, Oklahoma, grandson Ryan and his beloved wife of 66 years, Glenna

Darlene (Newman) Brown. He is survived by his children, Alison (Don), Sharon (Tom), Carol

(Mark), Patricia; his sister, Dorcas (Gerald); his grandchildren, Jason (Sarah), Alissa (Zach), Ashley, David, Vanessa (Chris), Michael (Mehorin), Jordyn (Ryan), Corey; 6 great-grandchildren and 3 on the way.

William (Bill) married Darlene Newman in 1951 and together they raised four daughters.

Bill completed his undergraduate degree at Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma, his Master's

Degree at Oklahoma State University and his PhD at The University of Oklahoma. In 1970, Bill

moved his family to Ohio joining the faculty at The Ohio State University as professor and

served as a Chairman of the Communication Department. He received numerous awards

including The Ohio State University Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. After retiring

from OSU, where he remained Professor Emeritus, Bill accepted a professorship at Dartmouth

College for several years. A published author, including "Imagemaker: Will Rogers and The

American Dream" Bill was a communication theorist who developed the communication model,

The Rhetoric of Social Intervention (RSI).

Along with his wife, Bill was a faithful and active member of United Methodist and Disciples of

Christ congregations, he was an Elder Emeritus in the East Mesa Disciples of Christ Church,

located in Arizona, where he enjoyed their winter home and was an Elder at Karl Road Christian

Church in Columbus.

Raised in Northwest Oklahoma, Bill grew up with a solid sense of community and love of

family. His values were shaped by the challenges of growing-up in a small town during The

Great Depression and WW II where his parents helped others by feeding and housing those in

need. He shouldered the work of the family farm following the death of his father and

continued to preserve the land. Bill always said that his greatest achievement was his family

and the Brown Family Motto is "You've got backing." Together Bill and Darlene provided a

foundation of love, acceptance, security, understanding, and empathy instilled in their children

and grandchildren.

Bill was a lover of nature, dancing, music (having played Trombone in a dance band), and most

of all he loved to converse with others. He was a life long learner with a yearning for

knowledge of every kind. He possessed the unique ability through his story telling to bring

history to life. His was a life well lived and in the words of Will Rogers, "So let's be honest with

ourselves and not take ourselves too serious, and never condemn the other fellow for doing

what we are doing every day, only in a different way."

This webcast will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 9:55 AM.

Watch webcast for William Brown:

https://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1095642