Biography: William D. ?Bill? Brown, 85, died Sunday, December 31, 2017 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bill was born in Champaign, Illinois on September 14, 1932 to Pyra Charles and Cecile Arnold Brown. The Browns moved to Little Rock when Bill was ten years old. He attended Pulaski Heights grammar and junior high schools, and graduated from Little Rock High School in 1950. After serving in the Marine Corps, Bill attended Vanderbilt University where he was a member of SAE fraternity, and received his BS degree in 1956. He is survived by his wife Linda Whiteman Brown, his children Amy Simpson Brown and her partner Stephen Popovich of Port Washington, New York; his son Charles Simpson Brown of Little Rock; his stepchildren Ellis McGehee Carter and her husband Myles, and their children Myles and Ella Carter of Tempe, Arizona; Scott Thomas McGehee, his wife Angel McVay and their children Milo and Eli McGehee and Chloe Butler of Little Rock. He is also survived by his former wife Caroline Simpson Brown of Little Rock. Bill owned and operated Brownie?s Oil Company, a distributor of wholesale fuels and owner of truck stops and convenience stores. Bill was a past President of the Arkansas Oil Marketers Association. Bill was an avid and enthusiastic traveler, and loved exploring with his wife Linda, children, grandchildren and friends. In recent years he especially loved spending summers in Crested Butte, Colorado?hiking and enjoying the spectacular scenery and weather. Bill was a lifelong, proud liberal Democrat who readily took part in marches and rallies, especially in support of equal treatment for all. Visitation will be Thursday, January 4 from 5-7pm at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St. Little Rock. The family will be at 17 Racquet Court in Little Rock on Wednesday, January 3 from 2-6pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Arkansas Arts Center, Accademia dell?Arte, or the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of the Palliative Care department at the John L. McClellan Veterans Administration hospital in Little Rock for their kind care.