William Brown, Jr.

Obituary

William Brown, Jr., affectionately known as “Butch”, was born on November 3, 1943 in Pittsburgh, PA to the late William Brown, Sr. and the late Lillian M. Crawford. He grew up in Rankin in a loving family with one sibling, Lenora M. William attended Rankin High School where he played saxophone in the high school band and in the school’s jazz quartet, graduating in 1961. Later that year, he joined the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1961 through 1965, and received an honorable discharge.

William was a loyal and faithful employee of Westinghouse Electric Company for thirty-six years, working as a dispatcher and later as a clerk at the East Pittsburgh plant. During that time, he also attended Point Park University where he studied business management. He retired from Westinghouse in 1992.

From a previous marriage, William had one son, Ronald, with whom he had a very close and loving relationship. In 1969, William married Evelyn Allen with whom he spent nearly forty-eight years of marital bliss. He loved jazz, was an avid golfer, and loved to travel. Together he and Evelyn travelled to various places in the country and around the world. His family was paramount to him and, while he came from a small family, he easily enlarged his family circle when, adopting Evelyn’s as his own. He observed that there were so many in Evelyn’s family that whenever they ate watermelon, they needed two.

William led a very active life despite chronic illness that he faced from a young age. It did not stop him. He fought the good fight for over ten years, remaining as active as he could, never giving up.

William is survived by his loving wife Evelyn (Allen) who was by his side to the very end of his life; his son, Ronald of Seattle, Washington; his sister, Lenora M. Garner (James) of Pittsburgh, PA; many members of his family, including nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a long list of friends.