Jane R. Brown

1929 - 2024

Jane Elizabeth (nee Rutland) Brown was born October 2, 1929 in Detroit, MI, the only daughter of Robert C. Rutland and Belle Rutland (nee Thomas). She departed this life peacefully November 14, 2024 at the age of 95 in Surprise, AZ.
While Jane was very young, Belle returned to her home in Manassas, VA bringing Jane with her. There, she attended Brown Elementary and Manassas Regional schools and was baptized into the First Baptist Church of Manassas. In 1951, Jane graduated from the historic Minor Teachers College. Beginning as a file clerk for the Department of the Navy, Jane became a cartographer in the Department of Interior - first for the US Geological Survey and ending with her 1985 retirement from NOAA. As a result of her work mapping Antarctica, a geological feature there is named for her; Rutland Nunatak.
During her time at Minor College, Jane was introduced to Artie Brown and, on April 25, 1952, the pair married and settled into life in Washington, DC. Their two daughters were born and both she and Artie were confirmed into St. Stephens and the Incarnation Episcopal Church. Having joined the Young Adults faction of the church, the couple was very active in the parish. In 1969, the family moved to Columbia, MD which led them to Christ Church. In her retirement, Jane was very active with the Women of Christ Church, in particular the annual flea market - planning, plotting, and marking the spaces allotted for vendors. Artie, her partner in life, passed away unexpectedly in May of 1992 and Jane began to contemplate downsizing the household, which led her to decide to move to Arizona and live near her younger daughter, Stephanie. There, she regularly attended the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist until her arthritis became too severe.
Jane is survived by her two daughters, Janet Arlene of Bladensburg, MD and Stephanie Maria, of Peoria, AZ, several nieces and nephews, and a host of cousins from far and wide. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Dr. Edie Wilson of Morogoro, Tanzania, her friend from Minor Teachers College and without whom she would never have met Artie Brown. Jane will rest beside him in the cemetery at Christ Episcopal Church. Services will be at 1 p.m. December 7, 2024 at Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Rd., Columbia, MD. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Episcopal Relief & Development (www.episcopalrelief.org)