William Lee "Bill"

Drown

William Lee "Bill" Drown 

January 28, 1945 – November 10, 2026

William Lee “Bill” Drown, 81, passed away on November 10, 2026, in Coshocton, Ohio. Born on January 28, 1945, in Wooster, Ohio, he was the son of William Marion Drown and Fannie Elizabeth Drown of Shreve, Ohio.

Bill was a proud member of the Army National Guard and served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. His years with the Patrol were a source of great pride and left him with countless memories and stories he loved to share. One of his favorite stories was how he met the love of his life, Becky, in October 1968, when he pulled her over for speeding. He gave her a ticket but later asked her out on a date. That memorable encounter was the beginning of a love story that lasted more than 57 years.

After leaving the Patrol, Bill continued his passion for helping others by owning and operating a successful mortgage business until his retirement. Outside of work, Bill was a man who could fix just about anything put in front of him, and if he thought he could build something better than the original, he would. From building his family home to rebuilding cars and repairing large oil well engines, there was rarely a challenge Bill wasn’t willing to take on.

In retirement, Bill became a familiar fixture on the sidelines and in the bleachers, proudly cheering on his grandchildren. He went door to door campaigning for his son’s judicial campaign and enjoyed traveling the world. While his faith remained strong and unwavering throughout his life, his family was always his greatest accomplishment and his true North Star, guiding everything he did.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Marion Drown and Fannie Elizabeth Drown; his son, Christopher Drown; and his sister, Bonnie (Drown) Bowen.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rebecca (Patton) Drown; his son, William Todd Drown; his daughters, Deborah (Steven) Legg and Tara (Kevin) Krotzer; his sister, Linda (Drown) Repp; and his seven grandchildren, Kole Krotzer, Ashton Krotzer, Kaden Krotzer, Courtney Legg, Madison Legg, Savannah (Legg) Lundquist, and Levi Legg.

Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Brucker & Kishler Funeral Home, 985 North 21st Street, Newark, Ohio. Military honors will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. by the Licking County Veterans Alliance.

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