Waltraut "Margie" Gerda Brown

Waltraut Gerda Brown, known to many as Margie, passed away peacefully in Austin, Texas on April 23, 2018, at the age of 94.

Waltraut is survived by her son, Herbert Brown and wife Juanita of Bryan, Texas, daughter, Sonja Vandiver and husband, Tom of Austin, Texas, Oma’s granddaughters, Laura Sherrod and husband, Greg of Paige, Texas, Jessica Camp and husband, Brandon of Bastrop, Texas, great grandsons, Lukas and Kaleb Sherrod, Herb’s son, Patrick Brown, wife Lindsay, and children Isabelle, Addison, Brady, and Hannah, of McKinney, Texas, sister-in-law, Betty Brown, and brother-in-law, Gene Brown, both of Dayton, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her little Dachshund, Tiny. Waltraut is preceded in death by her husband, Roger Brown, parents, Herbert and Margarete Klingbeil, and brother, Winfried Klingbeil of Germany.

Mother was born on August 23, 1923 in Rummelsburg, Germany. She lived there through most of World War II until she was forced to flee with her mother from the oncoming Russian army. Her mother and she traveled by foot through difficult conditions, foraging for food and seeking shelter in woods. Their goal was to reach American lines and avoid capture by Russian forces. They successfully reached American lines and eventually arrived in Bremen, Germany. In Bremen, she was employed by the US forces newspaper, “Stars and Stripes”. In the newspaper office, she met Tech Sgt. Roger Brown, whom happened to be the circulation manager for the “Stars and Stripes” in southern Germany. As love would have it, their mutual interest in each grew, and, would lead to their marriage on August 30, 1947.

In 1948, the newly weds traveled back to Dayton, Texas. Upon arriving in Dayton, she sought to go to work. Mother met W.T. Jamison, Sr. and earned the opportunity to work at Dayton State Bank.

Mother’s life-long dream was to be a mother and have children. Her dream was realized in October of 1951, when Roger and Margie welcomed a baby boy, Herbie, whom they adopted from the Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio, Texas. Three years and four months later, they welcomed their daughter, Sonja, whom they adopted from Germany. Coupled with her desire to have children, was her desire to be the best Mommy in the world. Her children can confirm she far exceeded her goal of being “World’s best Mommy”. Her love and devotion were unconditional. We turned out pretty doggone good!

For almost 70 years, Margie was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Dayton. She was also an active member of the Lakata Club. Later in life, she was elected to the Board of Directors for First National Bank of Dayton. Health was very important to Mother. She enjoyed walking, swimming, weights, bicycling, mornings with tv exercise guru, Jack LaLane accompanied by the ever-popular Glamor Stretcher, and even yoga in her late 70’s! She would also put all of us to shame when it came to her nutrition and diet, not to mention eating healthy followed by any new vitamin that came on the market.

Great appreciation is extended to Dan and Nimfa Delacruz for their compassion and care of our Mother during the last eight years. Also, a special thank you to Mother’s caregiver, Mario, for his 24/7 care of Mom.

Our Mother lived a wonderful life. We should all be so blessed to experience life as she has.

Visitation for Waltraut is scheduled from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Monday, April 30th at Pace Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. Mother’s celebration of life is scheduled Tuesday, May 1st at 10:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church of Dayton, Texas, followed by interment at Magnolia Park Cemetery under the direction of Pace Stancil Funeral Home.

Those wishing to honor our Mother, may memorialize her life with contributions to First United Methodist Church of Dayton (936.258.8021 firstumcdayton.org)