Claude William "Bill" Brown, Jr.

FLORENCE - Claude William "Bill" Brown, Jr., 87, went home to be with our Lord on Wednesday morning, February 4th. Mr. Brown was born in Florence on November 20, 1927 to Claude William and Lucy Leonard Brown. The celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday at Church at Sandhurst. Fred Kosin will officiate the service. Burial will be private on the family lot at Mount Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church.

Mr. Brown is survived by his wife Patsy Ann Riley, his daughter, Claudia Grossman (Dobby), his son, William Patrick Brown (Terry), and his sister, Betty Ann Phillips. Also surviving are his grandchildren Kristen Oswalt Tindal, Bran Oswalt (Joanna), Will and Drew Brown, granddaughters Jordan, Caitlyn, and Emma Tindal, as well as several nephews and nieces. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Dorothy "Dot" Inabinet.

Following graduation from Florence High School, Mr. Brown entered Clemson where he studied architecture followed by 2 years in the Navy. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Business Administration at which time he joined his father's business, Brown Memorials. He later became president of the Monument Builders of North America and president of the prestigious American Institute of Commemorative Art receiving numerous awards for his designs.

His hobbies included water skiing, scuba diving and running. He was a former member of the Kiwanis Club and St. Paul United Methodist Church where he and his wife taught a singles Sunday school class. In the mid-70s Mr. Brown became an associate member of Campus Crusade for Christ's HERE'S LIFE, later becoming the Director of Church Life, a transitional project from HERE'S LIFE. Over a period of 18 or more years he was involved in short-term mission projects to the Caribbean, Romania, the Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, China and the Persian Gulf. The Kazakh people always held a special place in his heart.


He earned an associate degree in Church Health from Columbia International University, and was a board member of the following: the Mission Society for United Methodists, the Clebe McClary Evangelistic Association and Garden City Chapel. He and his wife were members of the Church at Sandhurst.


In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to HERE'S LIFE, which supports church planting efforts in Northern India and Nepal, 2423 David McLeod Blvd., Florence, SC 29501.

Waters-Powell Funeral Home is assisting the family of Mr. Brown.

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