Margaret “Maggie” Cardwell, 87, born Nov 17, 1924, was greeted in Heaven by Jesus and loved ones on Sep 22, 2012. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Ralph Cardwell; parents James and Lola (Renfroe) Peterson; brother Dick Peterson and sisters Polly Garland, Betty and husband Ivan Whitson and Jean Hayes. She is survived by son David Cardwell of Little Rock; daughter Sherry Kelm and husband Ron of Houston; grandchildren Nicole Wylie and husband Keir, Christopher Kelm, Erik and Sky Cardwell; great grandchildren Brielle, Elise and Celia Wylie; brothers Paul and wife Peggy; Monroe and wife Edith; Homer and Tom Peterson; sister Ann Yelton and husband Frank; and a multitude of extended family and dear friends.
Margaret was born and grew up in the hills of North Carolina. After graduation from high school she lived many places including NY where she worked for Eastman Kodak during the war making hypodermic needles. Other jobs included painting pottery, sewing in furniture factories and finally as a librarian assistant at Carnegie Library, from where she retired after 25 years to take care of her husband Ralph until he died in 1992.
She loved to travel and visited numerous countries on six Continents. Margaret served as Boy Scout Leader for David’s troop, treasurer for AARP, volunteer for Woodlawn Heights Civic Association and enjoyed many fine performances at TUTS and The Alley Theater while serving as a volunteer usher. She helped coordinate and took part with an exercise group through which she made many good friends. Being an avid reader her job at the library gave her access to that joy both before and after retirement. Maggie derived much pleasure from working in her yard and seeing things grow and bloom and she had deservedly won Yard of the Month just last year. But, her greatest delights were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Visitation is Wed, Sep 26, 6-8 pm at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd, 77008. Funeral service at First Baptist Church Heights, 201 E. 9th St., 77007 on Thu, Sep 27, 2 pm, with Pastor John Schmidt officiating.
Pallbearers are grandsons Chris Kelm, Erik Cardwell and Keir Wylie; nephews Blaine Whitson and Jim Fletcher; close family friends Jerry Boyle, Wilson Wan and David Smith.
Graveside services immediately follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1101 Antoine, 77055. For those wishing, in lieu of flowers, Memorials may go to her church, 713-861-3102.
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