William C. Brown, MD of Washington Crossing, PA died Thursday, June 2, 2016 at his home after a long illness surrounded by members of his loving family. He was 88.

Bill was the beloved husband of 62 years to Ethel Klotz Brown.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was the son of the late John Wesley and Helen Sanders Brown.

Bill was a resident of Washington Crossing for over 50 years. He was a graduate of Ursinus College and the Temple University School of Medicine. Dr. Brown completed a year of internship at Mercer Medical Center in Trenton, NJ, and went on to complete a residency in Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology in the US Public Health Service in Galveston, Texas, Baltimore, MD and Norfolk, VA. He had a successful and distinguished career as an ophthalmologist from 1963 where he established and maintained a private practice at 651 W. State St. in Trenton and later at 770 River Road in West Trenton and at the Mercer Medical Center in Trenton until his retirement in 2002.

Dr. Brown was a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a member of the American Medical Association, and the New Jersey and Mercer County Medical Societies. He was a 33rd degree Mason and a member of the Trenton Cyrus Lodge No. 5. He was also a Shriner and member of the Scottish Rite. Bill had an extensive knowledge and love of military history, especially the American Civil War era. In his leisure, he enjoyed singing, collecting antique firearms, and building models, particularly military figures, airplanes and ships which he assembled with great care and detail. Bill was a lifelong fan of West Point football and enjoyed working in his garden. He would often try his hand at repairing almost anything and in his early years was a wood craftsman. Bill appreciated the quality time spent with his family and he loved the family vacation home on Cape Cod.

In addition to his wife Ethel, Bill is survived by his five children and their spouses, Dr. William C. Brown, Jr. and his wife Norma R., Rev. Dr. John Wesley Brown, II, David C. Brown and his wife Elizabeth T., Bruce G. Brown and his wife Juli H. and Scott C. Brown and his wife Kimberly J. He is also survived by his 10 grandchildren, Katherine Kaufmann (John), Kristen Welsh (Joseph), Laura Daniels (William), Anne Brown (Luke Clapp), Stefanie and Christina Brown, Sabrina and Nathan Brown and Juliet Z. and Nicole L. Brown and his 3 great-grandchildren Geoffrey, Jack and Clay Kaufmann.

Relatives and friends are invited to express their condolences from 5:00pm until his Funeral Service at 7:00pm which will be officiated by the Rev. Dr. Norman J. Leve on Sunday, June 12^th at the New Life Christian Church, 4 Freedom Drive, Newtown, PA 18940. Prayers prior to departure for interment in Ewing Cemetery, Ewing, NJ will be offered at 10:30am on Monday, June 13^th at the New Life Christian Church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to New Life Christian Church, 4 Freedom Drive, Newtown, PA 18940 or the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, 72 Escher St., Trenton, NJ 08609.