Willard F. Brown

Willard F. "Bill" Brown, age 86, of Dover, died Saturday, Apr. 21, 2012, in his home, following a long illness.

Born Jan. 20, 1926, in New Cumberland, he was a son of the late Clifford and Lucy Krieg Brown. Bill graduated from Dover High School in 1944 and entered the United States Army, serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre during the Second World War. Upon his discharge and return to Tuscarawas County, he married the former Norma Romig on Jun. 20, 1948, in the New Cumberland Methodist Church. The couple shared sixty-three years together and reared three children before Norma's passing in 2011.

Bill was employed first by Wendling Bros. Construction Co., and then by the Gundy Construction Co., where he worked for thirty-five years, retiring in 1986 as construction superintendent.

He was a faithful member of First Christian Church, New Philadelphia, and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. Bill and Norma liked to travel and did so extensively. Golf was another of Bill's favorite pastimes, but above all, he enjoyed time spent with family especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his three children, Becky Spear of Pickerington, Steve (Ruth) Brown of Bluffton, SC, and Connie Brown of Montrose, CO; his six grandchildren, Bryce Brown of Bluffton, SC, Shannon Brown of San Francisco, CA, Nathan (Abby) Spear of Pickerington, Stephanie (Luke) Schumacher of New York, NY, Dillon and Jordan Vessels, both of Bellingham, WA; his four great-grandchildren, Kelly, Jack and William Spear, and Axel Schumacher; his brother, Edward Brown of Mineral City; and his niece and three nephews.

In addition to his parents, and his beloved wife, Norma, Bill was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Joe Vessels, and by his brother and sister-in-law, Orlo and Ruth Brown.

A service celebrating Bill's life will be held Saturday, Apr. 28, at 11 a.m., in First Christian Church, New Philadelphia, with Pastor Jim Borton officiating. Burial will be in Dover Burial Park. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the church. Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover, on Friday, Apr. 27, 5 8 p.m., and at the church on Saturday, 10:30 11 a.m. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Bill, please visit the Obituaries & Flowers link on the funeral home's website.

The family suggests that contributions in Bill's memory be made to Great Lakes Caring Hospice, 1530 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44313.