Hugh Robert Browne's Obituary
Hugh Robert Browne was born on Thursday, May 31, 1934, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was the eldest of four sons and was named after his two grandfathers, Hugh Heyburn and Robert Browne. After finishing school in 1948, at the age of 14, he went to work as a delivery boy and received $1.10 (5 shillings) for 40 hours of work, half of which went to his mother for his upkeep!
In the fall of 1952, he met Margaret Flanagan at his ballroom dancing class. After their second class together, he asked her if he could walk her to the bus stop. On the way, he asked Margaret, "Do you like chicken?" She replied, "Yes," and Hugh said, "Grab a wing." He held out his arm and they walked together for 56 years.
Together they had three daughters, Janette Marie, Margaret Kim and Lynda Ann.
Hugh's first time that he felt the need for God in his life was early in his and Margaret's relationship when they attended a Billy Graham Crusade in Belfast. His relationship with God was nurtured after arriving in the States through the preaching at Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church.
On May 17, 1963, Hugh left his job as a Linotype Operator (Typesetter/Compositor) at the Belfast Newsletter with $135.00 in his pocket and headed to the States for a job at a commercial print shop called Judd & Detweiler on Florida Avenue in Washington, DC.
After six weeks under unbearable working conditions, he left that job and began working for the Washington Post. He then purchased his first home in Carole Highlands, Takoma Park, MD and a station wagon which he would use to pick up Margaret, the girls and his mother-in-law when they arrived in the States on December 6, 1963.
In 1965 he began working at the Wall Street Journal in White Oak, MD. In 1974, he accepted a position as a printer-proofreader at the US Government Printing Office. He retired after 25 years there. In 52 years of employment, he was only out of work for 4 days!
Hugh worked some part-time jobs as well in order to support his family. At one point he was a school bus driver. He was active at Wallace with numerous job titles and responsibilities, was a member of the National Christian Choir for 18 years and coached soccer for boys while living in Calverton. Hugh had joined the Boy Scouts as a teen and earned the King's Scout Award which is equivalent to the American Eagle Scout Award. He then ended up as the Scout Master of the 75th North Belfast Scout Troop.
Hugh and Margaret purchased their last home in 2004 in Thurmont, MD, to be close to their daughter, Kim, and her family. It was there that Margaret passed away in 2009.
Hugh later found companionship with Kay Souza, who also attended Wallace Church and sang in the choir with him and Margaret. The two were married in October 2010.
Hugh enjoyed reading Tom Clancy novels, playing his guitar and singing to his girls, his time coaching soccer and working with the Boy Scouts, singing in the choir at Wallace and with the National Christian Choir. He especially enjoyed all the get-togethers with family throughout the years and celebrating each special event. He and Margaret would hold crab feasts at their home in Calverton. He loved crabs! He was quite the joke teller and loved giving hugs. One young lady always referred to him as "Huggable Hugh."
Hugh was predeceased by his loving wife of 53 years, Margaret Flanagan Browne; his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Flanagan; his brother Raymond and wife Mary; his brother Ralph and wife Agnes; and his brother Dennis.
Hugh is survived by his three daughters and sons-in-law; Jan and Jody Crisotomo; Kim and Anthony Brady; Lyn and Jim Shilling; 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; his wife Kay Souza Browne and her children and grandchildren.
Hugh will be remembered fondly by all that knew him and deeply missed by those who loved him.
We do believe that the first thing he did when he got to Heaven was to find Margaret and tell her to "Grab a wing!"
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