Leta Trice Chesbrough Brown, 88, died Dec. 11, 2012, at Horizon Bay Vibrant Retirement Living, Vero Beach.
She was born in Federalsburg, Md., and lived in Vero Beach for 56 years, coming from Cincinnati.
She taught at Mount Rainier, Md., Elementary School for two years. In 1946, she became an airline hostess for Capital Airlines (which became United Airlines).
She studied at the University of Wisconsin and became a teacher of the blind for six years before moving to Vero Beach.
She and her husband opened a delicatessen and catering business named “The Sandwich Tray” in Vero Beach.
She returned to teaching and became Indian River County’s first special education teacher.
She spent the next 26 years as a teacher, a teaching principal and the principal at Wabasso School for Exceptional Children.
In 1975, she received her master’s of education degree from Rollins College in Winter Park.
She retired in 1983 after 35 years of teaching. She graduated from Federalsburg High School in 1941, entered Salisbury State Teachers College (now Salisbury University), graduating with a bachelor of science degree.
She was a past president of Vero Beach Retired Educators Association and Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Teacher’s Sorority.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Brown, of Vero Beach.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Cowles Chesbrough; and three brothers.
Contributions may be made to Salisbury University Alumni Association, 1120 Camden Ave., Salisbury, MD 21801.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach.
A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 15 at the Community Church in Vero Beach.
Interment will follow at Crestlawn Cemetery in Vero Beach.
A guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
