William Dean “Bill” Brown, 79, of Rockville, passed away Monday, April 27, 2026, at Union Hospital in Terre Haute.
He was born May 9, 1946, in Richmond, Indiana, to the late Charles Marshall Brown and Ella Lucille Baumgartner Brown.
Bill was the owner and operator of Bill Brown Shell Service Station from 1974 until 2017 where he also provided 24-hour wrecker and towing service. He began at the age of 11 working for his father at the Hoosier Court Standard Service Station and Motel from 1957 to 1974. He was a former member of the Rockville Fire Department and served on the Rockville Town Council. He was a 1965 graduate of Rockville High School.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Mary McCoy Brown, whom he married August 29, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada; two sons, Scott (Lori) Brown of Rockville and Dean (Debbie) Brown of Rockville; one daughter, Buffie Pratt of Rockville; one brother, Everett Brown of Amo; one sister, Gail Hutson of Clinton; grandchildren, Stephanie (Neril) Griffith, Andrew (Jessica) Krout, Ross (Hannah) Brown, John (Kristin) Brown, Alexis (Connor) Moore, Denny (Meghan Sliz) Pratt; great-grandchildren, Spencer Krout, Kaden Krout, Ava Krout, Miles Brown, and Josie Brown and Nixon Griffith; as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Steve Brown, and one sister, Velma Patterson.
Memorial visitation will be 4:00–8:00 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2026, at Gooch Funeral Home, 112 West Howard Street, Rockville.
Memorials should friends so desire, may be made to the Parke-Vermillion Humane Society, P.O. Box 293, Newport, IN 47966 or the American Legion Fellenzer post 48, 115 E. Ohio Street, Rockville, IN 47872 in Bill’s memory.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Gooch Funeral Home & Crematory, Rockville. Online condolences may be shared at www.goochfuneralhome.com.
