809 La Clede Street, Bellmead, TX 76705

W. D. Brown Jr.
August 20, 1934 - March 14, 2018

W. D. Brown Jr.

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W.D. Brown, Jr., of Waco, Texas, went home to be with Jesus on March 14th at the age of 83 at Providence Hospice Place.

W.D. was born at home in Hubbard, Texas, to William Doyle Brown and Jodie Addice Collier Brown. W.D. graduated from Hubbard High School in 1953 and married his high school sweetheart, Sondra Holmes. After borrowing $25 from his in-laws to purchase a TV tube tester, W.D. and his bride moved to Dallas where he attended TV Technician School. After school, the couple moved to Waco where he was employed by Bates TV Repair. In 1963, he was hired by Sears, Roebuck and Company, and over the years his skills grew to keep pace with the change of technology and he retired from Sears in 1993 as an Electronics Technician.

In 1988, W.D. married Frankie. The pair enjoyed all things flight, and built upon relationships with their extended families. W.D. and Opal met while caring for Frankie. They later married and spent the last thirteen years of his life together. Experimental aircraft was W.D.'s passion. He and his brother, Don Brown, were charter members of Waco's Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Chapter 59. For years, he attended the EAA annual fly-in, even in the days it was held in Rockford, Illinois, before it moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Many of his days were filled with adventures of flight, including a minor test crash or two, but mostly a love of the hobby he shared with the people he had come to know and respect. After retirement, W.D. expanded his interests to gardening. He went back to school at McClennan Community College to learn organic gardening and enjoyed growing all things vegetable.

W.D. is survived by his wife, Opal, his daughter, Shira Zippe and her husband Kirk of Pflugerville, Texas, his grandsons, Justin Brown and wife Jennifer of Lincoln, Nebraska, Brandon Zippe and wife Melanie of Austin, Auggie Zippe of Pflugerville, his granddaughter, Ashley Welch and husband Josh of Brownwood, Texas, his step-children, Joy Leathers, Bryan Plagens, R.J. Warren, Jr., Charlsey Whitney, Randall Mattlage, Kevin Mattlage, his brother, Jan Brown and wife Linda of Burleson, Texas, his brother, Tommy Brown and wife Lisa of Austin, Texas, his great-grandchildren Garytt, Westyn Dean, Clint and Larkyn, as well as six nieces and nephews.

W.D. was preceded in death by his daughter Sonna Dea, his son Alvah Dwain, his granddaughter Courtney Gail Brown, his wife Frankie Brown, his brother Don Brown, his parents and step-son Steven Plagens.

Visitation will be Friday, March 23rd from 5:00-7:00pm at Bellmead Funeral Home, 809 LaClede Street.

Funeral service will be on Saturday, March 24, at 10:00am at Sparks Memorial United Methodist Church, 900 Maxfield Street, Waco. Graveside services and EAA Fly-over will be in the afternoon at 1:00pm at Rosemound Cemetery 3201 South 12th Street in Waco.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to EAA Chapter 59 at https://www.youcaring.com/eaachapter59inmemoryofwdbrown-1135834, or checks can be sent to: EAA Chapter 59 C/O Phillip Perry 210 Oak Creek Circle McGregor, Tx 76657 or the charity of your choice.

Aviation dreams to reach beyond the heavens. May our children fly!

Visitation
Friday, March 23, 2018
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Bellmead Funeral Home
809 La Clede Street
Bellmead, TX  76705
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Service
Church
Saturday, March 24, 2018
10:00 am
Sparks Memorial United Methodist Church
900 Maxfield
Waco, TX  76705
Map & Directions

Graveside Service
Saturday, March 24, 2018
1:00 pm
Rosemound Cemetery
12th & LaSalle
Waco, TX  76706
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Interment
Rosemound Cemetery
12th & LaSalle
Waco, TX  76706
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Condolences(11)

  1. Kenneth Rameh
    Worked with WD for many years at Sears. He was a fine man and will be missed very much. May God comfort and keep you close during this time.
  2. Donna Brown-Bird
    I will dearly miss this man, my Uncle Dub. I have nothing but fond memories of him from childhood. He once rescued me while I tried to shimmy up the gigantic tree in his backyard to invade the boy's tree house, where no girls were allowed. He climbed up, grabbed me and tossed me to my daddy, below. What a duo they were. Together, they are flying high with the angels, now. Missing them both so much.
  3. Janelle sledge Nihols
    Attended all four years of high school with W.D He was one of the niced boys in school also agood football player We kept in touch through our Hubbard High School Reunions every oyher year He will be missed.RIP W.D.
  4. Parvin & Adlura Bond
    Shira, we'll be thinking of you and the rest of the family. God bless you all.
  5. Kevin, Angie, Devin & Chance Mattlage
    W.D. Brown may you rest in peace sir and I pray you have favorable tailwinds and blue skies on your journey West. I'm sure Mother has a task list ready for you and keep your guard up as I know Devin will have a prank or two waiting for you.

    I'll leave you with this W.D. as I suspect you will agree....

    "Impressions of a Pilot"

    Flight is freedom in its purest form,
    To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;
    To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,
    To feel the joy that swells within;
    To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,
    And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;
    Then back to earth at the end of a day,
    Released from the tensions which melted away.
    Should my end come while I am in flight,
    Whether brightest day or darkest night;
    Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain,
    Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again;
    For each of us is created to die,
    And within me I know,
    I was born to fly.

    - Gary Claud Stokor
  6. Jan Kendall
    Special thoughts and prayers are with you, Shira, and your entire family. Your Dad was blessed to have you and he is safe and whole now in his Eternal Home.
  7. Pamela Plagens
    Very sweet man I had the pleasure of meeting,and knowing for 8 yrs. until we see each other again may you Rest In Peace..God Bless
  8. Donald Peacock
    God be with all of the Brown family and know that the Peacocks will be praying for you. We lost a man we always enjoyed being around as we did the other Brown's.
  9. charlotte russell
    so sorry for your loss
  10. Billy Jack Waters
    W.D. you were my best friend, and I will miss you very much. ... BLUE SKIES FOREVER...... BJW
  11. Janis Arnold
    RIP cuz!
    So sorry to lose you but blessed you will be with 2 of your precioys children and your Mom and Dad!
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