Betty Jean Brown

Betty Jean Brown, 89, of Van Wert, died at 3:41 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born April 30, 1923, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late T. Powell and Opal M. (Hepperd) Jones. On November 26, 1942, she was united in marriage with Gus R. Brown, her husband of 69 years, who survives her in Van Wert. She is also survived by one son, Gary Powell (Gail) Brown of Kalamazoo, Mich.; and one daughter, Debra Jean (Charles) Davis of Van Wert; two grandchildren, Lisa Ann (Christopher) Hayes of Oregon, Wis., and Melissa A. (Steve) Krendl of Upper Arlington; and two great-grandchildren, Ronan Powell Hayes of Oregon, Wis., and Landon Krendl of Upper Arlington.

Betty is a member of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert, the Van Wert Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, Alpha Delta Omega Sorority, and the Van Wert Garden Club. She was a graduate of Van Wert High School. During World War II, she was employed by Federal-Mogul Corporation and then as a bookkeeper at the Van Wert Montgomery Ward store. Following the war, she became a full-time homemaker.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 12, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Revs. Gus Christo-Baker and Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.

Calling hours are from 4-7 p.m. Friday, May 11, where an Eastern Star memorial ceremony will take place at 7 that evening, and an hour prior to services Saturday, all at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: First United Methodist Church Food Pantry or Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center, c/o Community Health Professionals, 1159 Westwood Drive, Van Wert, OH 45891.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.bricknerfuneralhome.com or to bricknerfuneralhome@bright.net.