Ethel Arlene Groves Brandon, well known as Rusty, 97, of Elkton, MD, passed away on October 3, 2023. Born in Kent County, MD on June 26, 1926, she was the daughter of the late William Benjamin and Catherine Cooper Roe Groves.

Rusty was a 1943 graduate of Chestertown High School, where she was the president of the Etiquette Club, and a 1947 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She was the night supervisor at Delaware State Hospital in the late 1950's and retired after 35 years as the night supervisor at Union Hospital in Elkton, MD, a time when the hospital did not staff clinical specialists 24/7. She provided coverage in the "accident ward", labor and delivery, and the operating room as necessary. Rusty also did security rounds and was the ambulance dispatcher for the Singerly Fire Company until 1961, when Cecil County established a central alarm system. After her retirement in 1998, she became a hospice nurse with Northern Chesapeake Hospice Foundation for another decade. Rusty traveled the back roads of Cecil County bringing comfort to her patients and support for their loved ones. She was an avid waterscape painter specializing in scenes from the Chesapeake Bay and enjoyed playing the piano. She also visited England with the Sweet Adelines, an organization that spans the globe connecting thousands of singers around the world. She was a farm girl born and raised in Kent County, Maryland who never lost her love for Kent County.

Survivors include her three children, Lt. Col. William "Kenny" Brandon USAFR, (Reba), Elkton, MD, Dr. Brenda M. Brandon (Max Blumenthal), Baltimore, MD, and Lt. Cdr. Gregory H. Brandon USN, McLean, VA; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; sisters, Honorable Mary Roe Walkup, Still Pond, MD, and Virginia Groves Liddell, Federalsburg, MD; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, Ralph Kenneth Brandon; siblings, Rebecca Groves Smith, Anna Belle Darwin, Ruth Elliot, Bedford Groves; and daughter-in-law, Kathleen McGrath.

A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the University of Maryland School of Nursing Alumni Association online at www.nursing.umaryland.edu/give .