Margaret Elizabeth "Betty" (Thomas) Brown

BROWN, Margaret Elizabeth “Betty” (Thomas), 95, of Centerville, OH, passed away Wednesday, May 12, 2021. She was born on March 9, 1926, in Marion, Ohio, the middle child born to Walter Raymond Thomas and Mary Lillian (Moore) Thomas. She graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1943. She met her husband of 56 years Chester “Chet” Brown at the skating rink when she picked on him because his school (Kenton) lost a football game to her school (Bellefontaine). Betty and Chet shared so many things, including the same birthday, she was 3 years his junior. Betty and Chet moved around central Ohio throughout their marriage but their favorite place was the post-retirement house they built on the lake in Russells Point, even though she couldn’t swim. Betty loved gardening, canning, quilting, sewing and family vacations to Beach Haven, NJ with her sister, Frances “Franny” Elma (Thomas) Murphy and brother-in-law, George Harry Murphy and their combined six girls to go fishing.

Betty was a 70+year member of Eastern Star, Indian Lake, OH and Belmont, OH chapters and volunteered hundreds of hours a month preparing medicine bottles to be recycled thru an Easter Star project. She was raised Presbyterian and belonged to Indian Lake Community Church, the same church they were married in 1946.

Betty was proceeded in death by her husband, Chet; parents; siblings, Frances “Franny” Elma (George) Murphy, and Walter “Bud” Raymond (Beverly) Thomas Jr. She is survived by three daughters, Terry Jean (Brown) Lowry, Betty “Babs” Ann (Brown) Brant, Kathryn “Kitty” Louise (Brown) Lowry-Collins; and five grandchildren, Elizabeth (Larry) Day, Scott (Jenneen) Lowry, Jay (Elizabeth) Lowry, Joy (Dan) Reiher, Michelle Pier; and seven great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, plant a flower or tree in her honor, and remember her in every bloom or bud, or create a sewing project with the most vibrant colors and wild patterns, she was never subtle. Fond memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.routsong.com.