William Brown

BRIDGEPORT, CT: After a life well-lived, William Brown, age 91, left our side to be with his Lord, with the promise of eternal peace.

“Bill” Brown was born to Scottish immigrants William & Margaret “Maggie” (Nichol) Brown in the city of Bridgeport, CT on April 17, 1934. Seaside Village, in the city’s South End, became his home along with older brothers Fergus & James and sisters Margaret & Jean. Bill attended Roosevelt Elementary & Bullard-Havens Vocational Schools & was drafted into the U.S. Navy serving as a machinist aboard the USS Forrestal, the fleet’s newest aircraft carrier in 1952. His service took him to the Mediterranean, but he would always long for home to be back with his family. Bill was active in Westminster Presbyterian Church as a dedicated member & sang in the choir. He was an avid doo-wop fan & you could find him at family gatherings providing his deep bass to many songs. He was also an accomplished artist, painting wildlife & landscapes.

His chance meeting on a blind date introduced him to the woman who would change his life & eventually become his wife; Margaret “Peggy” O’Donnell. He later recalled how awestruck he was at her beauty & that she came from a beautiful family. After marriage, Bill & Peggy welcomed William Fergus Brown in May 1962, David Hugh Brown in July 1964 & Laura Jean Brown in September 1967. He was a hands-on father, who worked hard & enjoyed his family life at parades, picnics & the annual family camping trip to many of New England’s most beautiful sites. He always provided many stories & words of advice for his children.

Bill’s creative spirit led him into becoming a business owner, launching Seaside Remodeling, his one man home improvement venture. He later returned to his expertise & worked at Sikorsky Aircraft for the last 22 years before retiring at 65. Bill & Peggy then moved to Uncasville CT, residing at Hillcrest for 20 years, where they met several close friends. One of his most cherished roles later in life would be becoming a grandfather to his grandchildren. Christopher Santos, Lindsey Brown, William Brown and Chad Oulette. Recently he became a great grandfather to Colt and Kane Santos.

A few years ago they moved back to their roots at Seaside Village and he was able to spend more time with his children, grandchildren and his daughter-in-law Paige Brown whom he adored. He had a support system back in Bridgeport that saw him until his last breath. He passed in comfort & peace & will be missed by all. He was predeceased by his parents & his four siblings, as he was the baby of the family.

In addition to his wife Peggy, he will be sadly missed by his children: William F. Brown, David H. Brown and his wife Paige, and Laura J. Oullette; his grandchildren: Christopher Santos and his wife Kylie, Lindsey Brown, William Brown, and Chad Oullette; his great-grandchildren Colt and Kane Santos; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Friends may come to greet the family on Saturday, January 3rd from 1-3 pm at the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield CT 06824. A prayer service with military honors will be held at 3 pm.