Dorothy Beatrice Allen Brown

She is survived by son, Paul A. Brown and his wife, Natasha; granddaughters, Helena Portia and Nina Francesca; brothers, John Allen and his wife, Rosa and Philip Allen and his wife, Mareta; and brother-in-law, John (Jack) F. Brown.

Dorothy Beatrice Allen was born on March 16, 1926 in Coon Rapids, Iowa to Edwin H. Allen and Irene Loomis Allen, and spent her early years in Ames, Iowa.

She graduated from Ames High School in 1944 and Ottawa University in 1948. She taught school for several years in Peabody, Kansas and then returned to Ames, where she worked at the Iowa State University Library for three years before attending the University of Illinois Library School in 1955. Dorothy was employed at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa as a reference librarian from 1957-1963, and it was there that she met her husband-to-be, Joseph Kreisel Brown. They were married in 1961.

When Dorothy gave birth in 1963 to Paul, their only child, she became a full-time mom. The family lived in Des Moines until 1973 and then moved to San Antonio, Texas for Joe's job at the Veterans Hospital. Throughout her life, Dorothy was kind, patient and prudent, values acquired from her family and her Midwestern upbringing. As manager of the household, Dorothy ensured all was in order (it invariably was), a skill she shared with her mother, Irene.

As befit her reference librarian training, Dorothy was a lifelong reader, and also enjoyed music. She and Joe were birders, longstanding members of the Des Moines Audubon Society (and while in Iowa the Iowa Ornithological Union) and the San Antonio Audubon Society.

After Joe's retirement in 1983, she and Joe enjoyed regular travels. Dorothy was a faithful Christian. Raised a Baptist, she was a member of the First Baptist Church in Ames, and then, with Joe, became an Episcopalian, joining St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Des Moines.

After their move to San Antonio, the Browns joined St. Mark's Episcopal Church, where Dorothy served God with her typical humility. Humble yet firm in her religious beliefs, she was a longstanding member of the Daughters of the King and the St. Margaret's Guild.

She served in the St. Mark's parish library, becoming head in 1981 and remained so until her retirement in 1992. She was called back in 1997 to help with the library again, adding five more years to her library service.

Dorothy had resided at the Chandler Estate nursing care wing since suffering a stroke in 2009, maintaining her selflessness and positive attitude. Joe visited her there every day until his death in September 2013. She was his guiding star.

In keeping with her wishes, family and friends will gather at a simple Graveside Memorial Service:

MONDAY

DECEMBER 15, 2014

10:15 A.M.

FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

In lieu of flowers, or for those who are interested, a donation may be made in her honor to the Chandler Estate at Morningside Ministries.