BROWN, Ruth Olivia

Ruth Olivia Brown, 84, of Phoenix, passed away November 27, 2002, after a short illness. She was born May 30, 1918, in Danville, Illinois, and moved to Phoenix with her family in 1965. She worked for the Cartwright School District until her retirement in 1980. Ruth graduated from Danville High School in 1937, attended the University of Illinois as a commercial art major, and married Donald J. Brown on January 5, 1941. While in Phx, Ruth returned to her love of art and became active in the Phoenix Art Guild, showing her paintings in many exhibits and serving as the Guild's president. She was also active in the Epworth United Methodist Church, where she served as leader of the Esther Circle. Following their retirement, Ruth and Don enjoyed camping in Arizona, Colorado and California, where they served as summer camp hosts for many years. During the last few years, they have enjoyed spending their summers with friends at the Silver Spruce RV Park in Lakeside, AZ. Ruth's greatest joy, however, was spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Culberson Hedgpeth and Laura Olivia Woodward Hedgpeth, and her brother, Eddie N. Hedgpeth. She is survived by Donald, her husband of 61 years, two children, Janice Olivia (Keith) Roudebush, of San Diego, CA, and Wayne (Susie) Brown, of Breckenridge, CO, and three grand children, Jeffrey Scott Bennett, of Denver, CO, Lori N. (Gary) Bender, of Sausalito, CA, and Sarah L. Brown, of Breckenridge, CO, currently attending Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH. A memorial service will be held for Ruth on Tuesday, December 3rd, Epworth United Methodist Church, 4802 N. 59th Avenue, Phx. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the American Lung Association of Arizona, 102 W. McDowell Rd, Phx, AZ 85003. The Arizona Republic December 1, 2002