William Edward Brown

Mr. William Edward Brown, age 93, of Houston TX passed away peacefully on Friday, January 25, 2019. He was a devoted father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. Bill grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and he made Houston his home since 1978.

Bill was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, graduating from St. Xavier High School in 1943. He attended the University of Louisville under the accelerated wartime Navy V-12 engineering degree program, graduating in 1945 as an officer in the US Navy. He served on active duty in the Pacific on the escort carrier CVE-116 USS Badoeng Strait.

Bill met his future wife Regina Riggle while both were in high school. Regina and Bill married on April 28, 1945, and over the next 70 years of marriage they raised four children, traveled the world, and enjoyed many memorable experiences together.

After his discharge in 1946, Bill and Regina returned to Louisville, and he began his career with the engineering firm C & I Girdler. His responsibilities evolved from draftsman to management of engineering projects across the country. His early work included engineering projects in Wyoming and Cleveland, and in 1955 as part of a large project in Searsport, Maine, he took the family with him to Maine for the summer.

Following the acquisition of C&I Girdler by the global engineering company Bechtel Corp, Mr. Brown’s responsibilities grew to include worldwide responsibilities. In his position as Vice-President of Overseas Bechtel Inc., he was responsible for projects in Europe, Algeria, Venezuela, and Indonesia. His business travel took him around the world, and Regina accompanied him on many trips to Europe and even Indonesia. He retired from Bechtel Corp. in 1987 and enjoyed many years of retirement with his wife and family.

Mr. Brown was active in the Houston Alumni Chapter of the University of Louisville, and he flew the U.L. Cardinal flag in front of his home in Houston on game days. He and Regina also attended many reunions for the CVE-116 USS Badoeng Strait veterans group. Bill was also a commissioned as a member of the “Kentucky Colonels”, a voluntary philanthropic organization which recognizes an individual’s noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to our community, state and nation.

Mr. Brown was preceded in death by Regina (Riggle) Brown, his loving wife of 70 years, who passed away on February 3, 2016, and by his parents Albert and Cecilia and his sister Mildred.

Mr. Brown is survived by his son Douglas Brown (Holly) and daughters Carol Kormanik (Ron Kormanik), Susan Brown, and Judi Davis (Steve Davis). He is also survived by many grandchildren - Michelle Brown Smith (Paul Smith), Ethan Edge Brown, Ryan Kormanik (Eilene Corcoran), Lori Kormanik, Jaqueline Brown, Lauren Brown, Jennifer Davis Hopson (Matt Hopson), Rachel Davis Schilhab (Jacob Schilhab), Hannah Davis, and Austin Davis. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Morgan Smith, Brayden Smith, and Reagan Smith.

A visitation and memorial service will be held on February 9, 2019, at the Arch L. Heady and Son Funeral Home, 4400 Bardstown Rd. Louisville, KY 40218. Visitation hours will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, with memorial service following. Bill’s final resting place will be in Calvary Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Bill’s memory to the American Heart Association.