Wilford Brown

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Wilford Brown, 85, of Marble Hill died Thursday, May 17, 2007, at Elder Care of Marble Hill.

He was born June 11, 1921, in Marble Hill, son of Troy Lee and Sara E. Fox Brown. He and Juanita C. Rhodes were married Sept. 24, 1949, at Lutesville, Mo.

Brown was a longtime funeral director in Bollinger County, working for Ward Funeral Home, Ward-Liley Funeral Home, Baker Funeral Home and Hutchings Funeral Chapel. He retired from funeral directing in 2005.

Brown and his wife operated the first Bollinger County ambulance service. He was a 50-year member and past grand master of Masonic Trowell Lodge 440 in Marble Hill, and a 32nd Degree Mason. Brown was a member of Hahn's Chapel General Baptist Church. During World War II he was part of the Army Air Corps, flying 30-plus B-24 missions over Central Europe. Brown received four Bronze Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Derek Brown of Edinburgh, Scotland, Robert P. Brown (Debi) of Jackson; a brother, Winford Brown (Imogene) of Marble Hill; a granddaughter, Becky Deck (Johnathan) of Glenallen, Mo.; step-grandchildren, Matt Zschille (Karrie) of Jackson, Christi Peters (Keith) of St. Louis; a great-grandson, Tucker Deck, a great-stepgranddaughter, Sydney Peters.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Gerald Huff officiating.

Burial with military honors will be in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill.