Ruth Ellen Brown

MECHANICSBURG – Ruth Ellen Brown, 76, of Mechanicsburg, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center on Jan. 28, 2024.

Ruth was born Ruth Ellen Broadstone in Urbana, Ohio, on Dec. 20, 1947, the daughter of Peter Broadstone and Caroline (Tooker) Broadstone. She grew up in her beloved hometown of Kings Creek, Ohio, and often told many colorful stories of her early years in her little town. She graduated from West Liberty-Salem High School in 1965 and was a proficient student who loved going to school and learning.

Ruth married Douglas N. Brown in July of 1967 and the two of them began a lengthy career working as dairy farmers. Ruth loved feeding baby calves and milking cows, but most of all she loved animals of all sorts and was the caregiver to many, many creatures over the years.

In 1985, Ruth embarked on a new path by earning two Associate degrees in business administration and executive secretarial procedures. This led to another lengthy career, culminating in 25 years of hard work as an executive secretary at the Speedway SuperAmerica corporate offices in Enon, Ohio. Ruth loved her job and she made many wonderful friends in her time in the business world.

Ruth retired in 2010 but she decided that she did not want to sit still and do nothing, which led her to pursue an online course of study at Post University in Connecticut. In November of 2023, Ruth earned her long-desired Bachelor's degree in psychology, which was among her proudest of achievements.

Ruth had a long history of battling hardship and physical ailments, but her spirit was never dampened and she never complained. Her greatest joy in life was her beloved family and her close circle of friends. She always said that her family was her crowning achievement and she boasted of each member of her family with tremendous pride.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Douglas N. Brown, by her mother Caroline Reams, and by her father Peter Broadstone. She is survived by her brother Homer Broadstone, daughter Tami (David) McGuire, daughter Marti (Greg) Dellinger, son B. Douglas Brown, and her beloved grandsons David (Sadie) McGuire, Garrett Dellinger, and Grant Dellinger. She was also a very proud great-grandmother to Levi McGuire, Andrew McGuire, and Everett McGuire, of whom she spoke very often.

Ruth also had a close circle of very dear friends which included Jennifer (Doug) Fancher, Gerry Fogarty, Sally (Mike) Scheuermann, Gayle Reed, Barbara McAlexander, Susie Markin, and Monica (Joe) Hudson. Ruth loved her friends as family and they were a great source of strength to her throughout her life.

In lieu of a traditional funeral, Ruth requested a private gathering of friends and family to honor her life.

Arrangements entrusted to SKILLMAN, MCDONALD & VERNON Funeral Home, Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.vernonfh.com.