William (Bill) Brown, age 76, of Paris, IL lost his battle with Alzheimer's disease at 8:25 a.m., Friday, March 25, 2016 in Life's Journey Senior Living, Mattoon, IL.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home.

Burial will be in Edgar Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 9 to 10:00 a.m., at the funeral home.

Memorials may be to the Alzheimer's Unit of Life's Journey Senior Living in care of the funeral home.

William (Bill) Joseph Brown was born August 17, 1939, the son of the late Herschel and Ruth Howald Brown of Vermilion, IL. He was the youngest of six children: Forrest (Bud), Catherine, Maxine, Joan, Warren and Bill.

He is survived by his wife Mary Ann and three sisters: Catherine Sturgell, Maxine Cochran and Joan Mattingly all of Paris and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in by his brothers: Forrest (Bud) Brown and Warren Brown.

Bill graduated from Paris High School in 1957. While attending PHS he started his radio career as a broadcaster at WPRS. He also worked at radio stations in Terre Haute and Brazil Indiana. Bill moved to Los Angeles, California in 1962 and married Mary Ann Haun, also from Paris, on October 19, 1963. In Los Angeles he was on the air at KMPC and KHU radio stations as well as KABC television. Among his most memorable news experiences was covering the Charles Manson trial where he actually got a personal interview with Manson. In 1975, Bill purchased a radio station (WBGA) in Paris, Kentucky and ran it until August 1981 when he and Mary Ann returned to Paris, IL to manage WPRS.

He loved working in his shop with wood and electronics. His lake front home on Twin Lakes was always a favorite place for his family to visit because of boating, swimming, fishing and snowmobiling. Everyone looked forward to the Brown Reunion annually hosted by Bill and Mary Ann.