Martha Pauline (Gerber) Brown, 97, native to Pandora, died Jan. 12, 2015, in Birmingham, Ala. She was born July 27, 1917.
She was preceded in death by second son, Jared Paul Brown who died 3 days after his birth on Feb. 25, 1948, and by her husband and missionary co-worker for 68 years, Rev. Dr. O. Carl Brown, Jr., on Nov. 12, 2010.
She is survived by two sons, Rev. Dr. David A. Brown (Carol) from Birmingham, Ala.; and Darryl J. Brown (Robin) from Kenneth City, Fla.; 8 Grandchildren, and 10 Great-grandchildren.
She was born to Manes and Elizabeth Hilty Gerber, and sister Mary Ellen, five years older. She grew up on a Pandora farm and attended St. John Mennonite Church.
She graduated from Moody Bible Institute, attended Taylor University, married O. Carl Brown, Jr., Sept. 6, 1942. She assisted her husband as pastor, Bible college professor, and missionary in Haiti for 21 years with the Missionary Church and World Gospel Mission.
They retired from Haiti in 1984 returning to Ft. Wayne, Ind., then to a new home in Pandora, for 10 years, downsizing to Bradenton Missionary Village in Fla., and finally to move in with son David and Carol in Birmingham, Ala.
In Birmingham, she was a member of Brewster Road Alliance Church.
Funeral services will begin at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 17, at St. John Mennonite Church, Pandora, with visitation one half hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Pandora. Memorial contributions may be made to World Gospel Mission, “Brown Share Division,” PO Box 948, Marion, IN 46952-0948.
Arrangements are by Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
