Margaret Pressler Barr

Margaret Pressler Barr, 95, of Austin, Texas, passed away Labor Day Monday, September 7, 2009, in Austin. She was born in Austin September 23, 1913, to parents Veannis M. and Herman P. Pressler, Sr. The youngest of three children, Margaret was proud to be a third generation Texan and granddaughter of the well-known cartographer Charles W. Pressler, who surveyed and drew some of the earliest maps of Texas. She was married to architect Howard R. Barr for 63 happy years and they lovingly reared two sons, Dick and Alan Barr. She lived all of her life in Austin except during World War II when her husband was serving in the U.S. Navy. Margaret began taking piano lessons at the age of five from Miss Sally Day and her love of the piano was lifelong. She grew up in a time when the purchase of the first family automobile was a memorable event and air conditioning consisted of nothing more than a late afternoon swim at Barton Springs pool before retiring to the screened sleeping porch. Being raised with two brothers in a neighborhood where boys out-numbered the girls gave her a spirit of determination and independence, which served her well in facing life's challenges. Her academic career started by being homeschooled by her mother, later graduating from Pease Elementary School's sixth grade where she received the Citizenship Award. In Austin High School Margaret belonged to the Red Jackets pep squad and the Hypatian Social Club before graduating in June, 1931, as a member of the National Honor Society. She spent her freshman year in college at Gulf Park College in Gulfport, Mississippi before returning to Austin to attend the University of Texas, where she obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1936. She was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and later served as president of the Pi Beta Phi's Austin Alumnae Club. After graduation she worked briefly as a receptionist-secretary for the architectural firm of Driscoll and Gross. In 1938 she married architect Howard R. Barr. In 1939, Howard Barr opened his own architectural office and Margaret served as his entire administrative staff. Margaret joined the Austin Junior League in 1939 and became a volunteer at the Cerebral Palsy Center. She became a member of the University United Methodist Church in 1941, having been a Baptist in her early life. She was a charter member of the Woman's Architectural League of Austin, serving as president in 1942. Margaret and Howard moved to Houston at the beginning of WWII, where Howard worked at the building of Brown Shipbuilding Yard and then in the construction of destroyer escorts. After Howard joined the Navy in 1942, they lived briefly in New Orleans, returning to Austin where their first son, Dick, was born on September 3, 1943. When Howard was sent to San Diego, CA. Margy and Dick joined him in California for a few months before he was shipped out to Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed until the end of the war. Howard returned November 1945 and in 1946 reopened his office before joining the architectural firm of Giesecke, Kuehne and Brooks. The family of three moved into an apartment next door to her childhood home and son Alan was born in 1947. Four years later they moved into a new house overlooking Lake Austin, which Howard designed, where they lived the rest of their lives. Margaret enthusiastically performed wifely duties when Howard was president of the Texas Society of Architects and Board member of the national A.I.A. She got great joy from her endeavors with her two sons in all stages of their lives. She was glad she was able to help care for her mother, Veannis M. Pressler, and her mother-in-law, Myrtle H. Barr of Austin in their later years. Margaret and Howard were devoted members of the Couples Plus class at the University Methodist Church, where they made many dear friends and gladly served the church as Sunday school teacher and architect-in-residence, respectively. Margaret was a member of the Settlement Club of Austin, the Knife and Fork Club, Austin Assembly, the German Texas Heritage Society and a faithful patron of the Austin Symphony. She kept in touch with long-time friends through membership in the Eleanor Tyler Sewing Club and the Rose Moore Sewing Club. They did not do very much sewing but they certainly enjoyed talking and eating. After her mother's death in 1975, she began to manage her mother's real estate property, which she continued to do for 34 years. "Mrs. B," as she was known to her husband and neighbors, found joy in everyday living, which endeared her to her friends and quickly made new friends out of strangers. She provided a wonderful model of our heavenly Father's love for his children, showing them unconditional love, guidance borne from wisdom, patience and forgiveness—always providing them encouragement and support. This kind, generous, intelligent woman—always concerned about others more than herself—was greatly loved by her family and friends, who are grateful for the many years she was with them. Her absence will be felt and mourned for a long time. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Howard R. Barr, father Herman P. Pressler, Sr., mother Veannis Maddox Pressler, brother Herman P. Pressler, Jr. and his wife Elsie Townes, brother Edward D. Pressler and his wife Maxine of Houston, and brother-in-law Charles Barr and his wife Mildred of East Lansing, Michigan. She is survived by son Richard Barr, his wife Mary Shipp, and grandson Johnathan Barr of Dallas; son Alan Barr, his wife Mary Sue and granddaughter Grace Barr of Austin; nephews Judge Herman Paul Pressler III and his wife Nancy, Townes Garrett Pressler and his wife Penny, and John Eric Pressler and his wife Sherryl, all of Houston; sister-in-law Bernice Barr Ragsdale of Austin; niece Marilyn Barr Leppek and her husband Al, nephew Charles Wesley Barr II of Interlochen, Michigan; nephew Steve Ragsdale and his wife Christi of Lake Worth, Florida; niece Nancy Lee of Glen Burnie, Maryland; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. Memorial services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m., Friday, September 11, at the University United Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas. Parking is available at the Platinum parking lot on the southwest corner of 25th and Guadalupe. A visitation at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home at 3125 North Lamar will be held on Thursday, September 10th from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening. Memorial contributions may be made to the University United Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe, Austin 78705, or the Settlement Home, 1600 Peyton Gin Road, Austin 78758.