Jean Brown

Jean Brown

Teacher

Jean Brown, 81, of Galt, died Aug. 2. She was born Jean Pool on Aug. 21, 1926, in Dewer, Okla.

Mrs. Brown, at the age of four, moved with her family to California to work in the fruit orchards in the Central Valley, settling in Greenfield. Later, at the beginning of World War II, she moved to San Jose. During the war, at age 16, she met and later married Marvin Brown. Following the war, Mrs. Brown helped her parents with their West Coast Shows' penny arcade business. They traveled the Pacific Coast working at local carnivals.

She later returned to school, attending adult education classes to receive her high school diploma. After receiving her high school diploma, she continued on to San Jose State, where she earned her bachelor's degree and teaching certificate. She graduated with academic honors and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, carrying a 4.0 grade-point average all four years. She taught elementary school at O.S. Hubbard in San Jose for the next 30 years.

While teaching at Hubbard, she was a mentor teacher, being honored many times by the community, children and teachers. For 25 years she donated her time after school to develop and teach international folk dance for students. Her groups danced at schools, hospitals and community events around the Bay Area.

She moved to Stockton in 2000, where she met and married Norman. They later settled in Galt and began teaching dance. Together they taught three dance classes a week in Galt and Lodi and two weeks a year at the UOP Folk Dance Camp in Stockton.

She is survived by her husband, Norman, of Galt; sons, Michael Brown and Terrell Brown; brother, Lonnie; sisters, Rose and Thelma; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Marvin Brown, and son, Phillip Brown.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ben Salas Funeral Home, 149 4th St., Galt. There will be no visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jean Brown Folk Dance Scholarship Fund, c/o Bruce Mitchell, 2420 Willow Creek Court, Cool, CA 95614.

Ben Salas Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.