Laura Browning

Mrs. Laura Browning, 98, of Ellicott City, MD, formerly of Damascus, MD, died Sept. 16.

Born May 14, 1917 on the family farm in Long Corner, MD, Laura was the daughter of the late Susie and Emory Burdette and the wife of the late Lt. Colonel William M. Browning, whom she married in 1939.

She is survived by son William M. Browning, Jr. and wife Paula of Hygiene, CO, daughter Susan Hughes and husband Michael of Ellicott City, MD, daughter Brenda Faus and husband Robert of Leonardtown, MD, and grandson Patrick Hughes and his fiancé Sarah Heidt of Hanover, MD.  Laura is also survived by brother Jack Burdette of Mt. Airy, MD, sister Betty Reed of Harper’s Ferry, WV, sister-in-law Mildred Crawford, and cousin Irene Hardy.  She was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters: Robert, Roger, Evelyn Beall, Emory, Georgetta Kelley, Ira, and Peggy Dayhooff, as well as brother-in-law and sister-in-law Lindsay and Kathleen Browning.

Laura was an exceptional woman for her time.  The first woman in her family to attend college, she graduated from the University of Maryland in 1938 with a BS degree in home economics.  She worked as a high school teacher in Hyattsville and Damascus, MD.  After husband William returned from WWII, they raised their three children in Wheaton, MD before moving to Damascus, MD in 1978 where they lived together until William’s death in 1998.  Laura had recently moved to assisted living in Ellicott City, MD where she read books on her Kindle and played word games and Bingo.  She will be remembered by all for her kindness, love, and generosity.

Friends may call at Stauffer Funeral Home, 8 East Ridgeville Blvd, Mt Airy, MD on Sunday, September 20 from 2-4 PM.

Funeral services will be held Monday, September 21 at 11 AM at Howard Chapel/Ridgeville United Methodist Church, 1970 Long Corner Rd., Mt. Airy, MD.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your favorite charity in Laura’s memory