SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION
Chapter 76 - South Florida
“The Green Berets”
May 9, 2022
Hello Members and Friends of the Association,
It is with a heavy heart we have lost another one of our SF brothers. COL(R) William F. “Bill” Brown passed through the gates of heaven, last Saturday morning, May 7th. Visitation will be Thursday, May 12th, at Gateway Funeral Home, 3596 US Hwy 441, Lake City, FL, from 5-7 PM. His funeral service will be held at Old Plantation Baptist Church, 9316 NW County Rd 245, Lake Butler, FL, at 10 AM Following his service, his internment will be at Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church, 189 Elizabeth Chapel Rd, Alma, GA, at approximately 4 PM, with military honors, in MaryEllen’s family cemetery.
In addition, I want to also pass along that SFC(R) John Kirkendoll’s beloved wife Jane Kirkendoll, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 7th.
Please offer up your prayers of peace and comfort for these families!
CW4(R) Ted Cooley
Joe Pruett on behalf of
Ed Pijuan
President
Obituary
Col. William Finley “Bill” Brown, US Army Ret., 78 of Lake City, passed away early Saturday morning, May 7, 2022, at his home with his family by his side. He was born in Lake City the youngest of 8 children to the late Frank Herod Brown, Sr. and Iva Louise Brinson Brown. Mr. Brown was raised in the Providence Community of Union County and was a graduate of Union County High School class of 1962. He continued his education and earned his associate degree at the Lake City Junior College and Forest Ranger School and was proud to be student #1. Mr. Brown earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Valdosta State University and was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Mr. Brown was drafted into the United States Army and served 2 tours in Vietnam as a Combat Engineer. During his 30 year career with the Army, he attended the Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth. Mr. Brown also served as the commander for the 3rd Battalion 20th Special Forces Group during Operation Desert Storm. Following his retirement, from the Army in 1993 at the rank of Colonel, Mr. Brown worked for the Florida Gateway College in Lake City for many years as the Director of Purchasing. Mr. Brown had made his home in Lake City since 1983 and was a longtime and active member of Old Providence Baptist Church. He loved spending time with his family, farming, growing vegetables and trees, and spending time at the old home place on the Olustee Creek. He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Allen L. Brown, John H. Brown, Gordon H. Brown, Frank H. Brown, Jr., Glen Brown and Nathan R. Brown; and his sister, Thetis Lee.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Mary Ellen Smith Brown, Lake City; his daughter, Courtney Brown Lipelis (Rafi), Lake City; his son, Chad Brown, Lake City; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services for Mr. Brown will be conducted on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Old Providence Baptist Church with Pastor Tim Stout and Pastor Burl Harkey officiating. A graveside service with military honors will be conducted later that day, Friday, May 13, 2022, at 4:00 PM at the Elizabeth Chapel UMC Cemetery in Alma, Georgia. Visitation with the family will be Thursday evening from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Old Providence Baptist Church Building Fund.