William "Bill" Brittain

Bill was born on the 20th of May 1931 in Houston to parents William Bolling Brittain and Fay Blanche Crouch. Except for a short time of residing with his grandparents in Brenham, Texas, Bill spent his entire life in Houston. After graduating from Jefferson Davis High School, he studied architecture at the University of Houston. He served in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Ellington Field.

As a teenager, one of Bill’s first employment opportunities was as an assistant to the owner of a small furniture refinishing shop. It was there that Bill learned the trade of restoring and refinishing fine quality antiques. Along the way, he had the privilege of learning even more from other craftsmen and would use that expertise to become a master craftsman himself. He spent the next several years building furniture for many of the River Oaks estates in Houston. Often, he would set up his shop in the basement of these mansions and work on site to complete the design, creation, and finishing of large pieces of hardwood, as well as upholstered furniture.

In 1955, he established Brittain’s Fine Furniture, and, over the following 41 years, he expanded his company to include five retail stores in the Houston area. In 1996, he fully retired, and he enjoyed the next several decades traveling with Kandy and pursuing gardening as a full-time hobby. One of his greatest joys was sharing with friends the beautiful flowers that were always available in his garden.

Bill received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at Lindale Baptist Church when he was sixteen years old. In 1980, he became a member of Second Baptist Church, where his spiritual growth increased as he worshiped and served there. He had a strong commitment to supporting evangelistic endeavors that would lead others to have that same relationship with Jesus Christ.

Bill was known for the warm and welcoming friendship that he extended to all, and he consistently sought to be an encourager to everyone he encountered. Not only was he a loving and devoted husband to Kandy for 41 years, he was instrumental in leading her into a deeper walk with Jesus Christ.

Bill is survived by Kandy; his children, Cheri Marshall, Susie and her husband Dr. John Etter, and Bill Brittain, Jr; and his grandchildren Katie Hayes, Sarah Hayes, and Bonnie Reynolds.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 19th of December in the sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway in Houston. Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a reception in The Deacon’s Parlor.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions in honor of Bill may be made to Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway, Houston, Texas 77057.