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Recent obituary: Patricia Louise Sanford Brown

Patricia Louise Sanford Brown of Chelsea, age 86, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 at Chelsea Community Hospital.

She was born Dec. 13, 1931 in Lansing, Michigan, the daughter of Leonard Holbrook and Thelma Elizabeth (Haite) Sanford.

Patricia attended Lansing public schools, graduating from J.W. Sexton High School in 1949. She was graduated with a BA from Albion College, Albion, MI in 1953 with a major in biology and minors in chemistry and Spanish. In 1978, Albion College honored her with a Distinguished Alumna Award.

She worked in the Virus Research Department of Parke Davis in Detroit from 1953-55 with the title of research virologist, spending the first year doing secondary screening in mice of substances with possible anti-neurotropic virus qualities. The second year, she transferred to the Salk Polio Vaccine Department at Parkedale Farms, Rochester, MI and safety-tested in small animals, individual strains of polio viruses.

Patricia married her college sweetheart, Tom Brown II on Aug. 27, 1955 in Lansing, MI. She was employed at various secretarial jobs from 1955 until February 1957 when their first child was born in Boston, MA.

Patricia was active in many organizations, including President of the Detroit Conference UMC Board of Equitable Salaries 1975-79, member of the Executive Committee of National Association of Commissions on Equitable Salaries of the UMC from 1975-1994, and National Treasurer 1984-1994. She served continuously as officer or committee member of Church Women United in Michigan, and State President 1979-82.

Patricia was first violinist and charter member with the St. Clair Shores Symphony, Mt. Clemens Symphony, and Allen Park Symphony. She was a member of several choirs, including the Midland Music Society Chorale, soloist with the Madrigal Chorale of Southfield, performing member with the St. Cecilia Society of Flint, and the Albion College Concert Choir (1953 and 2000-2004).

A memorial service will be held in Albion on Saturday, March 24, 1 p.m. at Albion College Goodrich Chapel. A memorial service will be held in Chelsea on Sunday, March 25, 1 p.m. at Chelsea Retirement Community.

For the full obituary, please click here.

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