Margaret Ann Bartelt

Margaret was born July 25, 1932 in Orange, California. She attended Wilson Elementary School, Willard Junior High, and Santa Ana High School, where she met the love of her life, Ron Bartelt. Growing up, Margaret was active in Girl Scouts and Jobs’ Daughters. She attended UC Berkeley and earned her A.A. degree in Spanish, then married Ron on September 23, 1952. Ron was drafted into the US Army that same year. He was assigned to the Army base in Heidelberg, Germany, where, in the summer of 1953, Margaret and newborn Sue joined him. After Ron’s tour of duty was completed, Margaret and Sue sailed home to California in 1954 on the steamship Queen Mary. Sharon was born in May 1955, followed by Sandra and Mark. The family took camping vacations every summer, usually in the western states. Margaret loved gardening with Ron. She is remembered for climbing trees, and was a rival to Lucille Ball’s character in “The Long, Long Trailer.” After all the children were in school, she worked outside the home; first as a part-time church secretary, then at the State Board of Equalization, and retired from the San Diego County Mental Health Outpatient Clinic in Oceanside as the office manager. As Ron accepted promotions, they moved to different cities throughout southern California. In their retirement years, Margaret and Ron traveled as much as possible; camping in their trailer, touring Canada and the northern US by train, and guided tour groups to visit many European countries.

Margaret was preceded in death by Ron in July 2021 and her eldest child, Sue, in December 2021. She is survived by her brother Charles Patrick (Suzanne), her children, Sharon Alldredge (Robert), Sandra Garcia, and Mark Bartelt (Kate), 6 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.

She passed away peacefully March 5, 2026 at Tri City Hospital, Oceanside. A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, March 21 at 3:00pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 700 E Bobier Dr, Vista California.