William M. Brown

William Brown of Perrysburg, Ohio passed away on January 29, 2026. He is already deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

William was born to Lavinia (Boroff-Hastings) and Walter C. Brown in 1945, in Toledo, Ohio, where he attended Toledo public schools and Bowsher High. He had many fond memories of the South Toledo area. As a young man he lived for a brief time in St. Petersburg, Florida, and fell in love with the state. William vacationed to Florida throughout his life.

In 1964 William enlisted in the United States Navy, was stationed in Japan, and saw combat in the Vietnam War, earning a Purple Heart medal. He was proud of his military service, but never militant. William's experiences in Vietnam impressed him to become kind and empathetic; though there was not a movie about Vietnam that he hadn't seen and critiqued.

William met the love of his life, Arlene Dandar, and they were married from 1970 until 2005 when Arlene left us much too soon. Bill and Arlene resided in Perrysburg and raised two children, Ryan, and Kelly (Caserta). Family was everything to William; there are many happy memories from the house on Twinbrook Drive. In 2003, when W South Boundary was widened, the city of Perrysburg moved two spruce trees from the Brown property to Hood Park where they stand today.

By trade William was a proud Teamster and drove truck until chronic illness forced him into early retirement. But he was mechanically minded, and industrious, so he always had "a project" going. During his life William took piloting lessons, went to night school, and studied drafting and business. William cherished automobiles. His one regret in life might be not hanging on to some of the classic American cars he owned in the 1960s and 70s.

William loved animals, and his pets, especially Riley, his loyal Doberman. He also loved putting down a few bucks on a horse; he was a fixture at Toledo's Raceway Park.

William Brown will be remembered for his kindness and generosity. He was a deeply good man. The family asks you to remember him through donations to the Humane Society or The Cherry Street Mission. And if you find yourself in Hood Park, Perrysburg, around Christmastime, and the spruce trees are decorated and glowing, enjoy them.