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Elizabeth Ellen Brown was born on January 15, 1957,at Middletown
Hospital, which served the Franklin, Ohio community. She left
this world on Good Friday, March 25, 1964, in Columbus, Ohio, at
Children's Hospital. At that time her home was in Urbana, Ohio.
Franklin was the location for her family while Chronicle. In
1957, the Brown Family moved to Urbana, Ohio, where her father
became the editor of the Urbana Daily Citizen. Her brief life of
seven years were filled with a love for the life she had as the
older sister of Clarence J. Brown, III, better known as Clancy,
and the daughter of Clarence J. Brown, Jr. and Joyce Eldridge
Brown.
Elizabeth Ellen became Beth very early in her life. Beth was
welcomed and adored by her grandparents Clarence J. Sr. and
Ethel Brown, Roy and Helen Eldridge. Many happy hours were
spent with friends and family. The difficult hours began when
she was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia when the
family returned from a trip to Florida. The picture you see
here
Beth Brown, age 4.
Left Click
on Photo to Enlarge
was
taken on that trip, the last time she would enjoy a life free
of leukemia.
Dr. Theodore E. Richards, Beth's family doctor, realized the
seriousness of a seemingly simple case of mumps and referred
the Browns to Columbus Children's Hospital where Dr. William
A. Newton became her primary physician. These two physicians
and their commitment to the true meaning of medicine has been
personified by the years of volunteer service which they have
given as Chairman and Secretary respectively to the Beth Brown
Memorial Foundation. The Foundation was the inspiration of
Beth's father, however, without the support of the original
Board, the continued success would not have been possible. The
Foundation became a 501(C)3 tax deductible organization
through the work of James Wachs of the Frost-Jacobs law firm
in Cincinnati, now Frost, Brown and Todd. The dedication of
friends, Marvin Humphrey, Doris and Bob Townsley helped to
make the Foundation a success. Their deaths have left not only
the Beth Brown Memorial Foundation in their debt, but also
many Urbana community organization have felt their absence.
Beth Brown, age 4, with her
brother, Clancy, age 2.
Click
on Photo to Enlarge
1965 gave the Foundation an added impetus. Two of Beth's
grandparents died. Ethel McKinney Brown and Clarence J. Brown,
Sr. passed away within 6 months of each other. Their years of
dedicated service to the United States in Congress for 27
years and to the State of Ohio as the youngest ever Lt.
Governor, and Secretary of State and to the village of
Blanchester as a newspaper family gave the Foundation an
additional mission. The first Scholarship in their names was awarded in 1966 and continues to be awarded to a graduate
from Blanchester High School. This award is given for Public
Service.
Robert N. Townsley's death in 1995 brought about another opportunity to memorialize the years of community service
given by the Townsley family. This scholarship is given
annually to a Lebanon High School graduate for Public Service.
Since 1964, when the first scholarship of $500 was awarded to
Linda Dubbs of West Liberty, the number and size of
scholarships have grown from a single to multiple awards.
Recipients have entered medical fields which have changed over
the years from nursing and medical doctors to include nuclear
medicine, physical therapy, pharmacy and bio-medical fields.
Recently, recipients were asked to comment on the impact the
Beth Brown memorial Scholarship has had on their lives. It has
been heartwarming to read their responses.
Beth Brown, age 6.
Click
on Photo to Enlarge
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