William E. "Bill" Brown Jr

William E. "Bill" Brown Jr, 87, of Murphysboro, died at 7:59 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 in the Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion. He was born July 22, 1928 in Alto Pass, the son of William E. Sr. and Dollie (Tate) Brown. He married Frances Jane Lipe on Nov. 10, 1950 in Jonesboro. She preceded him in death on Aug. 23, 2010.

He is survived by his son, Mike (Karen) Brown of Cobden; three grandchildren, Kara Flatt of Cobden, Amy (Josh) Williams of Travis Air Force Base in California, and Wesley Brown of Virginia Beach, Virginia; five great-grandchildren, Hannah Flatt, Josiah Williams, Esther Williams, Damien Brown, and Annelise Brown; one sister, Ruth Purvis of California, Missouri; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Frances Jane Brown; and one sister, Barbara Brown.

He was ordained as a minister in the Church of God, in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1951 and later became a Bishop of the Church. He was a member of the Church of God in Carbondale for many years. He loved to play the guitar and sing. He was a pastor for various churches in Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri and had a long time radio program on WINI, The Old Country Church.

He worked many years as a custodian for the Murphysboro School District. Bill proudly served his country in the United States Navy and the Coast Guard. 

Funeral services was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 in the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Cobden with Bishop Roger Moore officiating. Interment was in the Dutch Ridge Cemetery. Graveside military rites was conducted by the Carroll P. Foster Post #3455 of the V.F.W. in Anna. 

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William E. "Bill" Brown Jr