Betty Lou Collins Brown, 85, of Shadeland where she resided with her daughter Rhonda for the past 12 years, died December 7, 2012 at IU Health Arnett where she had been hospitalized since November 26, 2012. Mrs. Brown was born on April 4, 1927 to Dora Dean and William Collins of Lafayette. At the youngContinue Reading
Betty L. Brown
Date of Death: December 7, 2012
Betty Lou Collins Brown, 85, of Shadeland where she resided with her daughter Rhonda for the past 12 years, died December 7, 2012 at IU Health Arnett where she had been hospitalized since November 26, 2012. Mrs. Brown was born on April 4, 1927 to Dora Dean and William Collins of Lafayette. At the young age of 17 she went to work at Brown Rubber Co. to support her family after her father was killed on the railroad. While working at Brown Rubber, she met the love of her life, Edgar C. Brown, whom she married on July 2, 1952 and shared 37 wonderful years. She continued to work in the same building for several years even though the company changed hands from Brown Rubber to H.K. Porter and finally Essex. She retired in 1987 due to a back injury that she sustained on the job. In her late teens, she was fortunate enough to partake in flying lessons at Halsemer Airport and was only 1 hour shy of being able to fly solo. When she was in her sixties she had the opportunity to travel to Mexico several times where she learned and loved to parasail. She said it was the closest thing to flying and felt that it brought her closer to her late husband. She was also an avid Cubs fan always stating “They will win next year!” She enjoyed playing cards and watching movies with her family and was a storyteller of days gone by. She attended her grandchildren's sporting and school events and when she was able, she would go to her great grandchildren as well. In the more recent years, she had several occasions for physical rehab at St. Anthony Healthcare and the therapy and nursing staff all loved her giving her the nickname “Downtown Betty Brown”. Her grandchildren and daycare children gave her the nickname “Ginny Jo”. She never met a stranger and opened her home not only to her friends, but her children's friends as well and made everyone comfortable. She was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Southside Neighborhood Coalition and for the past 12 years assisted her daughter Rhonda with Cherished Children Daycare. She will be sadly missed by her son Thomas L. Brown (Indianapolis); daughter Rhonda E. Chapman (Hop); daughter Rose Marie Brown Plumback; granddaughter Dorrie L. Ford (Gary); grandson Jarrett E. Chapman (Dannette) and great grandchildren Henry Ford, Emily Mae Ford, Jacinda Chapman and Jolea (JoJo) Chapman.