Margaret J. "Peggy" Stevenson

Margaret J. "Peggy" Stevenson, aged 93 years, died at Four Seasons Retirement Center on March 8, 2013 after a long illness. She was born June 1, 1919 in Columbus to Harry G. and Marjorie W. Newton. In her early years she lived in Florida, Texas, and California. She and her mother returned to Columbus in the mid-1920s. She graduated from Columbus High School and from Indiana University. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from I.U., being one of the first women to receive a degree in chemistry from the university. During World War II she was employed by Eli Lilly Corporation in Indianapolis, then by Noblitt-Sparks (later Arvin) Industries in Columbus, where she worked until 1958. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Psi Iota Xi and Delta Gamma sororities, and several other civic and arts organizations. She was one of the first full-time residents of Grandview Lake. Among her civic interests were the Mill Race Park project, Elderhostel, Love Chapel, the Columbus Indiana Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. A life-long interest in other places and cultures led her to travel widely, visiting all seven continents. She was married from 1940 to 1976 to Robert L. Stevenson of Linton, mayor of Columbus from 1947 to 1951. Her daughter, Marjorie Kay Ghuman, preceded her in death in 1975. She is survived by her son, Joseph N. (Carol) Stevenson of Indianapolis, three granddaughters, Christina Dawn (Davin) Tipton of Columbia City, Missouri, Sandra Leilani (Jeff) Schroeder of Indianapolis, and Patricia Shawn Ghuman of Columbus; and two great-grandchildren. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Columbus with the Rev. Peggy Casteel officiating; the family will receive friends in the Laws Room of the church from 12:30 p.m. to service time. Inurnment will be in the Crump Mausoleum at City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the First Presbyterian Church Stained Glass Fund.