Margaret Whaley

Margaret Thornburg Whaley passed away on Thursday, October 20th, 2016, at the age of 94. She will be missed by her family and many friends. She was the last of the 13 children of the Winfield and Viola Thornburg family; the end of an era actually. A memorial service is planned for Thursday, October 27th, 2016; visitation from 2-3 P.M. with the service following at Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Dallas, North Carolina.

Margaret was born on August 7th 1922 in Dallas, NC, to Winfield Scott Thornburg and Viola Reinhardt Thornburg. She grew up in the country with her twelve brothers and sisters on the family farm and her upbringing was full of stories about life on the farm and during the Great Depression.

Margaret went on to become a registered nurse at Presbyterian Hospital Nursing School and upon graduation in Feb. of 1944 entered the United States Army as a 2nd Lt. in the nursing corps. A very young nurse from a small Southern town was on her way to the Philippines on a huge military ship, where she was stationed until the end of the war and where she met her future husband, Jack E. Whaley.

Upon her discharge on August 7, 1946, she returned to her hometown of Dallas, NC. Jack continued to court her, making multiple trips from L.A., California, where his family lived, to Dallas, NC, until she said “Yes” to his proposal. She, a friend, and a sister took her by train to New York City to buy her wedding dress, which is still in her trunk filled with memories of their life together. Margaret and Jack were married on June the 20th, 1950 in a private ceremony on the farm where she was raised.

Margaret & Jack left Dallas shortly after their marriage to return overseas to live for many years in the Philippines and in Singapore. Jack worked for John Deere International until 1968 when they returned to the U.S. Their only child, Winnifred Michelle, was born in the Philippines on May 11, 1952.

They lived in Rock Island, IL, for many years until retirement, whereupon they built their home in Dallas, NC, a dream that she and Jack fulfilled. She and her sisters, Mabel, Scotty, and Juanita all lived within a half-mile of each other for many good years. Her husband Jack passed away on November 9th, 1998, with Margaret by his side.

Margaret was always a caring person, who went out of her way to visit those who were sick or needed her help. She was active in her church, was a great cook, and loved to golf. She loved her family, friends, and home. She is loved and survived by, her daughter, Michelle Whaley Slentz, of Dallas, NC, and Bruce S. Langston. She cherished her grandchildren, their spouses, and great-grandchildren, who were all a delight to her. They are Aubrey Slentz Van Cleave and husband, Adrian, and their son Brolin; Nathan Slentz and wife, Anna, and their son Baylor; Brent Slentz and wife, Nicole, and their sons Kanon and Cade, all of Dallas, NC.

Margaret relished her nieces and nephews and their families; closest to her were Paula Hull, Patty Crisp and family, Blair and Karen Denton & family, of Dallas, NC; Joan Riboli and family; Judy Donovan & family, both of Alhambra, California.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.