Bill Brown, age 87, longtime Oak Harbor resident, passed away suddenly at Whidbey General Hospital Monday, Dec. 29, 2014.

Bill Brown was born in Littleton, Colo., April 13, 1927, to William Harvey Brown and Hazel Belle (Hayden) Brown.

He was raised in Baytown, Texas. Bill entered on duty in the US Navy in 1944 and retired at NAS Whidbey Island in 1964 after 20 years of service to his country.

After a brief reprieve, he began his Civil Service duties in 1966 as a firefighter for the NASWI Fire Department, a position that he held until retiring in 1982.

Bill married Chloma Dee Robbins Nov. 28, 1956, in Houston and had just celebrated 58 years of marriage.

He was active for several years as a Shriner and was often dressed as Donald Duck in local parades.

He was also a member of Bellingham Bay Lodge #44 Scottish Rite Bodies and the Whidbey Lodge #15, F&AM. Bill’s favorite pastime was his golf game.

He was a regular out at the Gallery Golf Course in Oak Harbor. He also enjoyed making birdhouses, reading books and working in his yard.

Bill is survived by his wife, Dee, at home; daughter, Beverly Vander Giessen, of Ferndale; five grandchildren, Sherri Courtney (Dan), of Lynden, Jason Weatherby (Tanya), of Sahuarita, Ariz., Travis Vander Giessen (Sarah) and Troy Vander Giessen, all of Bellingham, and Tiffany Young (Jon), of Johnstown, N.Y.; six great-grandchildren, Erika, Tyler, Vylit, Hunter, Hailey and Ryder; two sisters; one brother; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.

An open house was held 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at Whidbey Memorial Chapel. You are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com