Virginia Brown's Obituary
Virginia Lee Focke Brown, 80, of Tulsa - Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Mamaw, Grandma, and Gigi -passed away on December 29, 2021, at the age of 80 after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded with love from her family, who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest.
Virginia was born on February 11, 1941, in Atwood, Kansas to two loving parents, Francis and Leila (Wicke) Focke. Being raised in the Lutheran Church and on the family farm in Ludell, many worthwhile values were instilled in her at a young age. Virginia graduated high school in 1958 with many lasting friendships. Shortly after graduation, Virginia moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend teletype school. She then began working at Watson Brothers and took a second job at McDonald’s Drug Store, where she met her late husband, Emmet Brown, formerly of Illinois. Virginia and Emmet were married in 1962 in Omaha. They were blessed with three children, daughter Robin, and two sons, Kevin and Kelly. Due to Emmet’s work, the Brown family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and then to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1974.
Virginia was one of the founding Preschool and Nursery teachers at The Early Childhood Center at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran church. She worked at ECC for over 30 years where she loved teaching and taught the love of God to hundreds and hundreds of children throughout her career. Every child and family who came through her class will always remember the love, faith, and kindness shown by Miss Virginia.
Virginia showed love and compassion to everyone she met. She loved attending and volunteering for her church and as she always said “making a joyful noise unto the Lord”. She enjoyed bowling, gardening, birdwatching, and showering her family with love. Family and close friends will fondly remember Virginia’s ability to plan the most special details for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions, full of all your favorite things and her famous brownies.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Emmet Brown, and her parents Francis and Leila Focke. She is survived by her three children: Robin Sanders and her husband Greg, of Muskogee; Kevin Brown and his wife, Terry, of Tulsa; and Kelly Brown, of Tulsa. She leaves behind her grandchildren: Danielle, Dustin, Deidre, and Dalton Sanders, and Alex, Victoria, and Frank Brown; and two great-grandchildren: Nathan and Axel. She is also survived by her siblings: Barbara and Babe Dunker of McCook, Nebraska; Charles and Ellen Focke, of Atwood, Kansas; and Bruce Focke of Ludell. She also leaves many other family members, and close friends, all of which will miss her dearly.
A memorial service will be held on January 5 at 11:00 am at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be live-streamed on Christ the Redeemer’s Facebook page and on their website- ctrtulsa.org. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Lutheran Hour Ministries or the National Audubon Society.
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