William Robert Brown

William Robert W. R. or Bill Brown of 174 Rosefield Drive, Kingsport, passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2007, at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center.

Born in Delrose, Tennessee, on November 27, 1917, he came to Kingsport after serving in World War II and opened Brown?s Custom Shop on Sullivan Street. Mr. Brown was a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church and very active in the Optimist Club where he coached basketball, sponsored the Boys and Girls Oratorical Contest, worked with Christmas tree sales and the tennis tournaments.

Preceding him in death were his father, James Brown; his mother, Aliene Rowe Brown; and his first wife, Elizabeth Wilhoit Brown.

Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Lanta Davis Brown; his son, Robert Brown and wife, Nancy of Knoxville; his daughter, Rebecca, of Kingsport; grandson, Matthew Brown of Los Angeles; granddaughter, Sarah Brown Baugess and husband, Justin, of Knoxville; sisters, Mary Alice Brown, Juanita Brown, and Anne Brown Carden and husband, Ed of Nashville; nephew, Donald Meyers and wife, Sherry of Nashville; niece, Betty Wilhoit St. Pierre, of Indianapolis; nephew, Gary Wilhoit and wife, Debbie, of Hendersonville; niece, Linda Wilhoit Egan of Kingsport; nephew, Alan Carden and wife, Susan, Nashville; and niece, Susan Meyers Butler and husband, Steve of Kingsport.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport. Funeral services will follow at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Jack P. Weikel officiating.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at East Lawn Memorial Park with military rites by Charles DeWitt Byrd Post #3382 of the VFW.

Family members and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Music Fund or Organ Fund at First Broad Street United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 1346, Kingsport, TN 37662.