Betty J. Brown

Betty Jane Brown, 89, of Bucyrus died Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Altercare of Bucyrus following a recent illness.

 

She was born September 16, 1921 in Bucyrus to the late Albert and Carrie (Laughbaum) Gerstenslager. After graduating from Bucyrus High School in 1939, Betty went to the Robinwood School of Nursing and became a R.N. in 1942. She worked at Bucyrus Community Hospital on evening shifts and served as night charge nurse in the 1940's and was a private duty nurse for many years.

Betty married William B. Brown on August 21, 1942. She and Bill were active in state and county fairs and served as Superintendents of the Crawford County Fair's Arts and Crafts Building for over 20 years until Bill's death in May 1985.

Betty is survived by two daughters, Susanna (Harvey) Robbins of Columbus and Barbara Van Scoit of Bucyrus; four grandchildren, Eric (Renee) Robbins, Dane Robbins and his wife Courtney Segovis, Robert Van Scoit and Christopher Van Scoit; seven great grandchildren; sister, Isabelle (Richard) McCormick of Bucyrus; nephew, Michael (Sue) Stuckman; great nieces, Kathryn Bernard, Barbara Foltz, Suzanne Haffner and Julia Stuckman and great nephew, Jeff Stuckman.

In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was preceded in death by sisters, Lucille Haffner and Irene Kohmann-Follman; brother, Donald Gestenslager; nephews, Richard Haffner and Marlin Sprouse and sisters-in-law, Marian Sprouse and Lucina Cress.

One bite of Betty's award-winning baked goods would make anyone a fan. Over the years, she won countless awards, including Best Cookies at the Ohio State Fair. She enjoyed the fair circuit with Bill, judging numerous Grange booths, Arts & Crafts and Baked Goods entries throughout the state. Betty was an avid reader and played the piano with Bob Streib's band among others. She could always be found helping someone and enjoyed memberships in Twig #16 at BCH, serving as President and cookbook organizer, and Whetstone, then Leesville Grange for over 60 years. A lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bucyrus, she served in the choir, as Sunday School pianist and a member of the Friendship class.

The Brown family will receive friends Tuesday, August 2 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus. Her funeral will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Bucyrus with Pastor Don L. Neumann officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul's Bucyrus Relay for Life or St. Paul's Lutheran Church through the funeral home.



Visitation:

2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011

Wise Funeral Service 129 W. Warren St. Bucyrus, Ohio



Service:

11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011



Cemetery:

Oakwood Cemetery