Elfriede "Elfie" Ida (Valach) Brown

Elfriede (Elfie) Ida Brown, 89, of Salem Indiana, died peacefully at her home at 1:32 pm on Friday, August 12, 2022. She was surrounded by loved ones as she passed. Elfie was born on February 6, 1933, in Vienna, Austria to Joseph and Maria (Schubert) Valach. She married George Henry Brown USAF from Campbellsburg, Indiana on December 18, 1955, in Vienna.

Elfie and George were stationed at several military bases while George was in the military. They lived in Seattle, WA; Bitburg, Germany; Oscoda, MI; Riverside, CA; and Ramstein, Germany. While Elfie was in Seattle, she obtained her U.S. Citizenship. After George’s death, the family settled in Salem, IN. At the age of 44, Elfie attended and graduated from Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana with a degree in Sociology. She was a social worker for the State of Indiana for over 20 years, working in Jackson and Washington County. In retirement, Elfie was both an active member and secretary of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, as well as a volunteer at the Salem Friends of the Library. She was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Salem, Indiana. She was a homemaker, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many people. She enjoyed the art of textile and mastered crocheting, knitting, and sewing. She designed countless beautiful afghans, hats, and scarves for her friends and family.

She is preceded in death by her husband George (Nov. 8th, 1973). Also preceding her in death are her parents, Josef and Maria Valach (Austria), her sister and brother-in-law, Erika and Franz Linduska, her grandson, Brandon S. Brown, her mother and father-in-law, Anna and James Brown (Campbellsburg), and her son-in-law, Gary Zink.

Elfie is survived by her 3 daughters, Annamarie Sue Zink of Indialantic, Florida, Monica Lorraine (Claude) House of Salem, Indiana, and Erika Irene (Joe) Garloch of Salem, Indiana. Elfie’s grandsons include John Harrison Zink, Bryan Joseph Putman (Liz Williams), Matthew Eugene (Beth) House, Benjamin James (Laura) Zink, and Joseph Henry Garloch. Her step grandchildren include Mary Ann Garloch and Justin Ernest Garloch. Her great grandchildren include Kenzie Grace House and Caleb Matthew House. Elfie is also survived by several nieces and nephews in both the United States and Austria.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 1PM at Weathers Funeral Home.  Burial will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Campbellsburg.  Visitation will be Thursday from 4-8PM and Friday from 11AM-time of service.