Virginia Maxwell Brown of El Paso, TX passed away early Thursday morning at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. She was the widow of MAJ (Ret) William G. Brown, United States Army (USA). Virginia A. Maxwell was born in Osage City, Kansas and grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas as the eldest of five children. Her father was a civil engineer at Fort Leavenworth and her mother was a schoolteacher. She graduated from Leavenworth Senior High School in 1938 as Valedictorian. She graduated summa cum laude from St. Mary's College in 1942 with a quadruple major and minor. During World War II, Virginia Maxwell volunteered for the American Red Cross and was assigned to the China-Burma-India Theater. She spent one year in China at advanced airfields of the Army Air Forces in Kunming, Chendou and Kweiyung. Upon her return from China, Virginia Maxwell entered Columbia University, from which she was awarded a Masters Degree in International Relations in 1947. Following her graduation from Columbia University, Virginia Maxwell entered Special Services and was assigned to Germany, where she worked in Grafenwoehr, Bad Nauheim, and Regensburg--establishing service clubs and assisting displaced persons and refugees. She also observed several sessions of the Nuremburg War Crimes Tribunal. It was at Regensburg where she met and married then CPT William G. Brown. The Brown family spent their military career at Fort Bliss and in Germany, with children born in both places. When MAJ Brown retired in 1958, the family returned permanently to El Paso, where he became a school teacher and assistant principal. Virginia M. Brown initially focused on raising their six children. After the first four children graduated from high school, she worked at the El Paso Parks and Recreation Department. In that position, she was a co-creator of the popular "Gus and Goldie" characters advertising the city parks swimming program. Virginia Maxwell Brown was an artist, incredible writer, avid reader, and devout Catholic. A woman ahead of her time, Virginia had an adventurous spirit. She was a world traveler, well read, and the most articulate person you would ever encounter. Her children were paramount in her life and their successes were attributable to her guidance, moral character, and faith. She believed that her legacy was her children. Virginia Maxwell Brown is survived by her six children: Deborah S. Brown, M.D. of Arlington, Virginia; LTC (Ret) Robert E. Brown, USA of Colorado Springs, Colorado; COL (Ret) Brian M. Brown, USAF of Tualatin, Oregon; Micaela Brown Newman of Houston, Texas; COL Heidi V. Brown, Deputy Commander of Fort Bliss; and LTC Anne C. Brown, RN, of Fort Bliss, TX. She is also survived by her brother, Robert A. Maxwell Jr., M.D. of Abingdon, Pennsylvania, and by her sister Elizabeth M. Bright of Atlanta, Georgia, five grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. A rosary service will be held at Chapel 1, 315 Pershing Road, Fort Bliss, TX at 2:30pm on Wednesday, 4 June 2008. Immediately following the rosary, a memorial service will be held at the same location. A reception will be held following the memorial service at the Fort Bliss Officer's Club. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Virginia's name to St. Mary's College, Leavenworth, KS; Catholic Charities of the United States; or Installation Chaplain's Office C/O CTOF Fund, PO Box 6095, Fort Bliss, TX 79916. FUNERAL ARRANGMENTS ENTRUSTED TO THE CARE OF FUNERARIA DEL ANGEL MARTIN CENTRAL, 3839 Montana Ave.