Marjorie Hendrix Wingard

“Margie” grew up in a farming family on Leaphart Road in West Columbia, graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School and attended Newberry College for one year. She was a member of Mt. Hebron Methodist Church in West Columbia until she married Judson Harman Wingard, moved to Lexington in 1948, and attended Pilgrim Lutheran Church.

She took on a leadership role in everything she did. She started the first Girl Scout troop in Lexington in 1958, and was instrumental in developing the Girl Scout program in Lexington through the 1960s. She went on to be a member of the Congaree Girl Scout Council. In the mid 1960s, Margie was the first female council member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church and served as Secretary of the Council. She and Judson led the “Luther League” youth program at Pilgrim for many years.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Margie and Judson sponsored two exchange students, George and Cecelia Verdaguer from Ecuador, and travelled there to meet their family.

In the 1960s and 1970s, she worked for SCE&G as an office clerk. She also worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural letter carrier.

Margie always preferred being outdoors with her flowers and, in 1968, she and Judson started Wingard’s Nursery. They didn’t set out to create a big business. It developed out of their love of plants and their desire to help others enjoy them just as much as they did. Margie was the friendly face of the business, always greeting customers with a smile, helping them select plants and teaching them how to garden successfully. She did the books and took care of the employees.

After moving to Oakleaf Village Assisted Living in 2015, she became the self-appointed “friendship director” at Oakleaf, welcoming new residents and making sure everyone had a friend. She moved to Lexington Medical Extended Care Carroll Campbell Place in 2020 and lived out her life there. Caregivers Annie Nearing and Melissa Rowson were her constant companions. She loved them as much as she did her own daughters.

Marjorie is predeceased by her husband, Judson; parents, James E. and Lizzie Lown Hendrix; grandson, Andrew Bowen and granddaughter-in-law, Kimberly Buff. She is survived by her children, Gail Buff (Wayne), Marilyn Wingard, Delores Steinhauser (Wally) and Phyllis Bowen (Jeff); grandchildren, Elliot Buff (Andrea), Ryan Buff (Julia), Jesse Freeman (Perryn), Meredith Winiker (Rick), Jordan Steinhauser Selan (Michael), Zach Steinhauser, and Jeremy Bowen and great grandchildren, Delany Buff, Merrit Buff, Dashiell Buff, Conner Buff, Kiran Buff, Tempe Freeman, Sara Gail Freeman and her namesake, Marjorie Selan.

Marjorie Wingard’s funeral service will be held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church on Saturday January 7, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation to follow in the fellowship hall.

Memorials may be made to Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1430 North Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072 where they will be dedicated to the music program, or to any organization working to provide Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, support, research or advocacy.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Wingard family.