Obituary of William Russell Brown

We lost our beloved William R. "Bill" Brown of Stottville, NY on November 29th, 2020, at the age of 97. His quiet dignity, good humor, easy smile, and twinkly eyes endeared him to all who knew him. Born on October 15th, 1923 to the marital union of Helen Rose (Conine) and Thomas George Brown, Bill grew up in Stottville alongside his siblings, Thomas, Bruce, Mary (Bartolotta), Arthur, and Helen Brown. Following his graduation from St. Mary's Academy in Hudson, Bill enlisted in the Army at age 19, in time to serve three years during WWII, two of which were spent in Europe. An avid musician, Bill was known to play the accordion to help keep spirits light. Upon his discharge, he was awarded the Good Conduct and European-African-Middle Eastern Service medals. After the war, Bill returned to Stottville and worked for Lone Star Cement, followed by Sterling-Winthrop. A loyal family man full of faith, he raised his three children, William, Robert, and Carol (Lahut), all of whom he loved beyond measure. Proud of his military service, Bill was a longtime member of his local V.F.W., where he served as chaplain. Post-retirement, Bill was content to stay close to home, where he entertained his adoring family and friends with music, sports talk, great stories, and quick-witted jokes. It is hard to put into words the magnitude of his spirit. Bill now joins his parents, most of his siblings, his son William who was killed in action in Vietnam, his daughter Carol, and his longtime love Liz. He is survived by his sister Helen, his son Robert, son-in-law Mark, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a large extended family. Visitation will be Thursday, December 3rd from 5 to 7 PM at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home in Valatie. Funeral services will be Friday, December 4th at 11 AM at St. Joseph's in Stuyvesant Falls. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery on Route 9. Due to COVID restrictions, it asked that all attendees wear masks, adhere to 6 feet social distancing guidelines, and sit in every other pew, which will be labeled. Church seating will be limited.