Hildegarde Marie Brown

Hildegarde Marie (Lockowandt) Brown was a centenarian, 100 years old, of Willow Valley, entered eternal rest on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Glen at Willow Valley Communities. She was born in Germany on March 7, 1926. At the age of 2, her family immigrated to the United State and eventually all in her family became United States citizens.

Hildegarde was the daughter of Gustav Lockowandt and Marie (Rhinehart) Lockowandt. She married the love of her life, Donald R. Brown, in September 1950. They shared over 63 years of marriage until Donald passed away in 2014.

Hildegarde/Hilde (as she liked to be called) graduated from Ebensburg High School in Ebensburg, PA. Her post high school education enabled her to become a secretary. Throughout her life, she honed her secretarial skills to become an executive secretary. Her first position after graduation was in the Juvenile Court House at the Ebensburg County Court House. She left that position when she married Donald in 1950 who was studying to enter Christian ministry. That’s when she became a partner in ministry with him throughout their married life. Hilde continued to use her secretarial skills throughout her life and as an executive secretary to the Dean of Penn State University branch campus in Monroeville, PA and then an executive secretary to a bank president in Erie, PA. However, her greatest purpose while married to Donald was supporting him in ministry by singing in the choir, playing the piano during church services, teaching Bible studies and hosting a myriad of dinners and receptions for members of their congregations.

Besides her beloved Donald, Hilde was devoted to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren! She was always a willing babysitter and loved taking her grandchildren for extended stays at her home as well as camping trips all over Pennsylvania and even a trip as far as Yellowstone National Park. Other joys in her life were having wonderful family dinners and picnics.

In addition, Hilde is survived by her daughter, Beverly M. Hess, the wife of the Rev. Dr. William Hess, II of West Chester, PA; 3 grandchildren Heather Hess-Skok, wife of Richard Skok, Matthew Hess, and Dawn Hess and 5 great-grandchildren, Timothy, Ethan, Camryn, Emma, and Sara. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Brenda Lee Brown, sisters Joanne Stiles and Elfrieda Shields and brother Walter Lockowandt.

A celebration/memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 11 AM at Central Presbyterian Church, 100 Uwchlan Ave., Downingtown, PA 19335 with her son-in-law, Rev. Dr. William Hess, II officiating. Mrs. Brown's family will receive guests from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. A luncheon will be provided at the church’s fellowship hall immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to one of the following:

Hospice & Community Care, Development Office, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125

Hospice & Community Care

or to Deacons, Central Presbyterian Church, 100 W. Uwchlan Ave., Downingtown, PA 19335

Deacons, Central Presbyterian Church