Margaret Ellen Hohenstein

Margaret Ellen Whoolery was delivered at home by a doctor who had come on horseback during a blizzard, February 4, 1918, in West Leisenring, PA. She was the first child of David and Stella Riley Whoolery. After her parents divorced and her mother contracted tuberculosis, she was raised by her father and stepmother, Lucie Johnson Whoolery. Most of her first fifteen years were spent in the coal mining community of Isabella in southwestern, PA, where she said she had a wonderful childhood. After graduating from Saegertown High School and Meadville Commercial College, she worked at Talon, home of the original zipper, in Meadville, PA. She married Joseph Charles Hohenstein on November 22, 1941, in Erie, PA, just two weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. They moved to Detroit, MI, where Joe participated in the war effort as a tool and die maker until he joined the Marine Corps and Margaret moved back to Meadville. After WWII, they moved, with their first two children, to Almeda, Texas, a small community on the outskirts of Houston. Their third child was born there the next year. A devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, she was known for her faith, generosity, integrity, warmth, irrepressible laughter, gratitude, cooperative spirit, and loyalty to family and friends. Her son, Roger, who had Down syndrome, died in 2010 at 63 years of age, having lived with family his entire life. She personally cared for him until she was 82 years old and then remained actively involved in his care for ten more years. Her staunch faith and belief that Jesus Christ was who he said he was, saw her through rough times and brought her strength, peace, and joy throughout her life. She could truly say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joe; her son, Roger; and two sisters, Blanche Stalnaker and Kathy Cunningham. She is survived by her daughter, Peggy Hohenstein; son, Greg Hohenstein; grandson, James Hohenstein; granddaughter, Jennifer Gulledge and her husband Colby; great-grandchildren, Brenden Hohenstein, Noah Gulledge, and Madeline Gulledge; sisters, Ida Judge, Lila Mercatoris, Elaine Adam, Corinne Pritchard, and Evelyn Tenney; brothers, Elliot Whoolery and his wife Donna, and the Rev. Norman Butler; as well as numerous other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 PM, Monday, July 16, 2012, at Southway Community Church, 14011 South Freeway, Houston, 77047, with the Rev. Jason Hess, officiating.

The family thanks with all their heart, Mr. Dot, Deborah, and all the ladies who cared for her the past five years, especially Telesha, Betty, Darlene, Norma and Mitzi, who so lovingly were with her the last weeks of her life. For all the other loving caring people who have enabled Mom’s life to be better as she finished her life, we profusely thank you.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201), Southway Community Church (14011 South Freeway, Houston, TX 77047-1945), Houston Hospice (1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030), or to a charity of your choice.

She will be buried with her husband and son Roger in Houston National Cemetery.