Virginia Lee Brown

Virginia Lee Brown, 87, of Mesa, AZ, joined Chester Owen Brown, Jr., her husband and the love of her life, on Friday, June 14, 2019. He had been “waiting and watching” for her, his final, parting words, since August 24, 2004.

Virginia was the daughter of Herman Jasper Aldridge and Rachel Elizabeth Nash. She was born September 12, 1931 in Pilot Knob, MO. She attended William McKinley High School in St. Louis, MO, receiving a letter for her participation in the A Capella Choir. She graduated in 1949 from Tempe High School, Tempe, AZ, her family having relocated to Arizona midway through her senior year. Her class at Tempe High School was the last to graduate from the school’s old location on the corners of Mill Avenue and University Drive. Virginia also played the guitar and performed once with Wayne Newton on the 1940’s Lew King Ranger Show, a locally produced radio program in Phoenix, Arizona.

Chet and Virginia met in July 1950. Six months later he said, “If I bought a ring, would you wear it?” She said, “Yes!” They were married on February 4, 1951 at the First Baptist Church in Silt, Colorado. Together they shared 53 years, 6 months and 20 days as husband and wife.

In her preteen and teenage years Virginia worked alongside her father in Missouri as he built several of their homes and crafted most of their household furniture. As a result, she acquired carpentry skills and later used them to add a screened porch to her home and she built a 5 piece matching set of bedroom furniture for her daughter.

Virginia was a homemaker and a stay at home mother during her children’s early years. Later she was employed as a school cafeteria worker. Her career took her to several elementary, junior and senior high schools in Tempe.

Virginia enjoyed a variety of hobbies. She began feather flower arranging and usually displayed her creations in the teacher’s lounge in the schools where she worked. She also enjoyed crocheting, completing many projects both big and small. Her baby afghans made the perfect baby shower gift! She had a lifelong interest in her family history and became very active in genealogy research beginning in the early 1980’s. Her favorite time of the day was when the mail arrived. It was always exciting to see how many answered letters or research inquiries that day’s mail might bring. She leaves behind a huge body of work, filling one entire bedroom.

Virginia is survived by one brother, Paul (Janet) Aldridge of Pagosa Springs, CO; a son, Ken (Danaze) Brown of Brighton, CO, daughters Karen (Vernon) Hills of Sahuarita, AZ and Kathy (Rev. William) Birdwell of Mesa, AZ; grandchildren Jason Hills, Conroe, TX, Kristen (Lance) Miller, Casa Grande, AZ, B.J. Hills, Dustin Hills, Kalynn (Tome) Crawford, all of Sahuarita, AZ, Rachelle (Chris) Thornton, Highland, CA, and Nathan K.E. (Lindsay) Brown of Tucson, AZ; great-grandchildren Clayton Miller, Owen Crawford, Conner Crawford, Brynlee Crawford, Ethan Crawford, Rylee Thornton, Nick Thornton, Sadie Brown, Mazie Brown and Abby Brown. Preceding her in death were her parents and her husband, Chester Owen Brown, Jr.

Virginia was a Baptist by faith but attended Gateway Church of the Nazarene in Mesa, AZ where her son-in-law, Rev. William Birdwell and daughter Kathy, were on staff. She enjoyed it very much, “even if the music was a bit loud!”

Services will be held for family on Saturday, June 22, with internment next to Chester at Valley of the Sun Cemetery, Chandler, AZ. Officiating the service will be Pastor Rod Marion, Gateway Church of the Nazarene.

Donations may be made in Virginia’s memory to Gateway Church of the Nazarene, 6935 E. Williams Field Road, Mesa, AZ 85212.