Ruth Constance Brown, née Deal-Groves of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 9th, 2023, at Pine Run Health Center. She was 96 years old.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, she was the daughter of John Andrew Groves and Georgianna Groves, née Seemans.
Ruth will be remembered for her hospitality, lively wit, love of art, and her generous nature.
After graduating from Eastern High School (Eastern Female High School) she obtained an associate degree and became a geotechnical associate, taking readings and creating charts for the Conowingo Dam Project to build one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the U.S.
In 1946 Ruth married John T. Brown, Jr. and began a life of globetrotting, moving up and down the east coast of the U.S. and to Sweden, England, and France. Despite their shared wanderlust they always returned home to their beloved Bucks County.
Besides being a devoted mother and grandmother, Ruth was an entrepreneur who established several antique and retail import shops. She was the proprietor of The Gaelic Rover in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, The Antiquarian in Burlington, New Jersey, and The Celtic Pavilion(s) in Lewes, Delaware and Lahaska, Pennsylvania. She loved to paint in oil colors and was a member of the Rehoboth Art League. Her hobbies included brass rubbing, gardening, and bird watching. Her knowledge of antiques and art proved invaluable in producing and chairing designer showhouses to raise funds for Heart of Bucks (Bucks County, Pa.) and Habitat for Humanity, Rehoboth Art League, and the Aids Foundation in the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach areas.
Ruth is survived by her brother, John Andrew Groves (Charlotte), her son, J. Thomas Brown (Deborah), her daughter, Lydia Hertzler (Glenn), and Barbara Brown (Jeffrey); nine grandchildren, Justin Brown (Kelli), Ian Hertzler (Michelle), Lindsay Brown, Jeffrey Joel Brown (Shannon), Katharine Karaszkiewicz (Richie), Russell Brown, Collin Hertzer, James Brown, Rachael Adelson (Brad), ten great-grandchildren; Jack and Alexander Brown, Henry and Eleanor Hertzler, Quinn, Van, Caiden, and Drew Brown, Ida Mae Adelson, and Daphne Hertzler. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Thomas Brown, Jr. and her son, Jeffrey Brown.
Relatives and friends are invited to her memorial service at 11 a.m., Friday, February 17th at Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home, 2335 Lower State Road, Doylestown, PA. 18901, where the family will greet guests from 10 a.m., until the time of the service. Interment will follow the service in Doylestown Cemetery, 215 E. Court Street, Doylestown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution’s in Ruth’s name may be made to: Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org), BCSPCA (buckscountyspca.org), ASPCA (www.aspca.org), or National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org).
