William V. Brown

William V. ?Bill? Brown, 91, of Pittsburg, Illinois passed away at 12:00 A.M. on Tuesday, July 16, 2002 at the Shawnee Christian Nursing Center in Herrin. Funeral Services for Bill will be held on Friday, July 19, 2002 at 11:00 A.M. at the Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home with the Rev. Frankie Pierce officiating. Visitation will be held at 10:00 A.M. prior to the Funeral Service. Burial with Military Rites will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion, IL. Bill was born on February 15, 1911 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Ira and Mary (Stoner) Brown; they both preceded him in death. He married Altha H. Handkins on August 5, 1939 in Marion, Kentucky, she survives. Bill served as Williamson County Treasurer for 4 years. He also served as treasurer for the Marion Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in developing the first Industrial Park. He helped establish the Peoples Bank of Marion and was a Charter member, and also did appraisal work for them. He was a member of the Pleasant Grove United Church where he enjoyed ringing the bell for Sunday Services. He served his country proudly during WWII, as a member of the ATC (Air Transport Command) which provided support to the Army Air Command by transporting needed supplies. After his service in The Air Transport Command he flew as a Pilot for American Airlines for sixteen years. Prior to coming to Southern Illinois Bill was a Farmer and also a Broker and owned his own Real Estate Office known as Brown Realty. Bill is survived by his wife, Altha, Daughter and son in law; Kay and Larry Woodson of Pittsburg, IL, Daughter Admiral Nancy E. Brown and son in law Pete Hesser of Annandale, VA, daughter, Martha Ann Richardson of Marion, IL, three grandchildren, Deborah A. Powers, Patricia (Patty) Rohrschneider and William Lee Richardson. His parents and a son, Raymond William Brown, preceded him in death.