MT. VERNON - Byford Stanton Brown, 85, of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 5:30 a.m. Monday, April 25, 2011, at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon. He was born Monday, Aug. 17, 1925, in Mt. Vernon, to Thomas and Velma (Williford) Brown. He married Delores Darnell in 1950 in Mississippi. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Bethel Memorial Cemetery in Mt. Vernon. Interment will follow at Bethel Memorial Cemetery in Mt. Vernon. There will be no visitation. Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Delores Brown of Mt. Vernon; a son, Jerry Brown and wife Sandi of Mt. Vernon; a daughter, Cindy Goss and husband Jim of Mt. Vernon; three grandchildren, Jennifer Brown of Mt. Vernon, Jerod Brown of Mt. Vernon and Jamie Alvarado and husband Mark of Chicago; two great-grandsons, Nicholas and Robert Alvarado of Chicago; two sisters, Donna Hines of Mt. Vernon and Norma Birckett of Geff; and several nieces and nephews also survive. His parents, two sisters and four brothers preceded him in death. Byford entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and received basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. He was transferred to the 20th Armored Division for training at Camp Campbell, Ky., (now known as Fort Campbell). He was assigned as a medium tank battalion crew member of General Patton's "Super Sixth" Armored Division, 9th Armored Infantry "A" Company that fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest region of southern Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany and lasted from Dec. 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. Byford was honorably discharged as a Private First Class on April 21, 1946. Following his military service he farmed and was a truck driver. For those who wish, memorials may be given to the American Red Cross and will be accepted at the funeral home or mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughey Funeral Home, where you may call 242-3348 or visit www.hugheyfuneralhome1969.com for further information and to send condolences