M. Dona Byron, a homemaker and volunteer for local charity organizations, died of a stroke Monday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The Lutherville resident was 83.
Born M. Dona Hughes in Baltimore, she graduated from Seton High School in 1937.
In 1942, she married Frank L. Byron, a civil engineer who died in 1999. The couple lived in Towson for 12 years and moved to Lutherville in 1958.
Mrs. Byron volunteered for local charities such as Our Daily Bread soup kitchen and was active in the Women's Auxiliary of Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, where she worked in the hospital canteen. She was treasurer of the auxiliary's board for 30 years.
"She had a good feel for numbers," said daughter Dona Johnson of Lutherville. "She remembered all the facts. She just wanted everything to be correct and everything to be done right. There was never a mistake in her books."
In the 1960s, Mrs. Byron worked as a sales clerk for Hutzler's, a department store in Towson.
For 40 years, she was a precinct judge for local elections.
She was a parishioner at the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Towson, where she supported several building funds. She was a member of Lady Elks Lodge 469 and the Burke-Lin-Ridge Garden Club, both in Towson.
She was an avid duckpin bowler and bingo player who enjoyed going to casinos in Las Vegas. She also enjoyed needlepoint and sewing clothing.
Mrs. Byron's pies earned top prizes in local bake-offs.
"She loved to bake cherry pies. That was the family thing -- nobody could bake a cherry pie like my mom," her daughter said.
A Mass of Christian burial was offered Friday.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Byron is survived by sons Clarke M. Byron of Towson and Frank L. Byron Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo.; another daughter, E. Bronwyn Byron of Towson; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
