Margaret T. Brown

Margaret T. "Margie" Brown, 96, Oakmont, formerly of McKeesport, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, in Forbes Hospice. She was born Feb. 21, 1917, near Masontown, in Fayette County. Formerly of McKeesport, she was retired from the Presbyterian Church USA. For more than 50 years, she was a member, deacon and elder of Central (now McKeesport) Presbyterian Church, a past president of its Women's Association, as well as chairman of its Mission Committee for many years. She was the past president of Presbyterial, which at the time was the primary women's organization within the Pittsburgh Presbytery. Her unbridled passion for mission afforded her opportunities to travel extensively on behalf of Presbyterian World Mission to Europe, Asia and Africa and she eventually became the Presbytery's Global Mission Advocate. She visited the homeland of her parents, Hungary, on many occasions, including once with her sons and a nephew in 1992, and served as a translator in 1996 when former President Jimmy Carter led a large group of volunteers there to build homes as a part of Habitat for Humanity. She was a highly sought after lay preacher for stewardship, going to countless Presbyterian churches near and far to spread her compelling message, which she would often conclude by imploring her listeners to "not give till it hurts but till it feels good." She was a daughter of the late Michael and Elizabeth (Csoma) Dudash; and wife of the late World War II combat veteran, Staff Sgt. William A. Brown. She was preceded in death by four brothers, one of which was Army Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross recipient Lt. Charles J. Dudash. She is survived by her sons, Robert C. Brown and William D. Brown, from the local area; along with nieces and nephews from across the country, including Robert M. Dudash, of Oberlin, Ohio, who was as close to her as one of her own sons. HUNTER FUNERAL HOME INC., 1600 Coursin St., McKeesport is in charge of arrangements, which are private. Interment will be at Mckeesport and Versailles Cemetery Mausoleum. The family suggests that contributions be made to Presbyterian World Mission. Part of Margaret's archived story should soon be available again for listening at http://www.pmm4u.org. Please stay tuned!