Margie Arnold Denson

Margie Arnold Denson, born September 8, 1927, was 95 years old when she died peacefully holding her daughter’s hand in Houston, Texas on January 19, 2023. Margie was the daughter of Euell F. Arnold and Alma Miller Arnold and the sister of Buddy Arnold and Leta Fae Arnold.

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Margie was predeceased by the love of her life, Charles Ross Denson, her husband of nearly 60 years. Margie’s life was focused on Charles and her family – 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren: Russell Denson and Carolyn and their children, John Denson and wife, Mari, and their children, Miguel, Diego, Javier and Sofia, Joanna Denson and her children Parks, Brooks and Gwen, and Travis Denson and his wife Amy and their children Claire and Caroline; Scott Denson and his wife, Joy, and their children, Kevin and Izzy and Joy's son Dustin; and Carol Denson and her son, Ethan. Margie is also survived by many nieces, nephews and other family members.

Margie found great joy when her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren came to visit. Scott came from Missouri regularly. Ethan and Maggie Hill came on weekends from Denton. Izzy lived with her and spent every Sunday afternoon with her. Russell and Margaret Smith often made Sunday visiting day, and they would share family activities and photos with Margie. Grandchildren and great grandchildren were always there for the holidays and other special times as well. And she enjoyed regular visits with niece Diane Bost Wells, nephews Elton Bost and Kenneth Bost, and cousins-in-law Sue Theodorson and the late Karen Berg, as well as her long-time friend Eva Mickel.

Margie was a third-generation Houstonian. Though she was born in New Orleans, she was a Texan and a long-time resident of The Heights. She walked to Harvard Elementary each day with her friend Carol Wells Pasche. She then attended Hogg Junior High and Reagan High School, where she was a member of the well-known Red Coats. Margie’s family was fortunate through the depression when her father was able to maintain a job and a car with Borden’s Milk. On Sunday afternoon, after church, Margie’s family would often take food and other necessities to her mother’s East End relatives, descendants of German immigrants who came through Galveston around the turn of the century. In the summers, Margie loved spending time in Angleton with her father’s family, who had moved from Kansas by covered wagon.

Margie was singing a solo at Heights First Baptist Church, when Charles leaned over to his friend, and said, “I’m going to marry that girl.” His friend replied, “She’s engaged to Felix,” to which Charles replied, “Too bad for Felix.” He approached her after the service with the line, “Hey, Good Lookin.” That Hank William’s tune remained one of her favorites throughout her life.

Margie was an incredibly hard worker in her and Charles’ real estate and rent property business in the Houston Heights and Brazoria County. For a time, the family also owned an Enco service station at the corner of Cortlandt and 11th Streets. During this time, Margie worked full-time at Ernst & Ernst, picked up her pre-schooler at Aldridge Nursery, cooked dinner for her husband and teenaged sons, cleaned up, and after everyone else was in bed, handled the bookkeeping for Denson Enco, as well as the real estate and rent property business.

Margie’s deepest love was family. She was the family’s babysitter, and with Charles, selflessly took in any grandchild, niece or nephew who needed extra attention. She came to sporting events, dance and music recitals and birthday parties of grandchildren who lived in Houston. She was also determined to cultivate and maintain a relationship with her grandchildren in Missouri. She was her youngest grandchild’s second mom. Until her mid 80s, Margie was on the floor playing with any child who came to visit. The day before she passed, Margie was recounting her grandchildren and great grandchildren and their birthdays. She didn’t want to forget. It’s hard to imagine anyone with as strong a bond with her grandchildren and great grandchildren as Margie had. She always told us to remember she loved us, and we will.

Mom was our biggest fan and our best friend. All three of Margie’s children called her nearly every day for the last 30 years, because they wanted to. She’d answer the phone with a smile when her young granddaughter called at 5:30 a.m. and was comforted in recent months by Joy’s nightly calls. She was fortunate to spend her last years in her own home. Russell lived three houses away, visited daily and took her to doctor’s appointments. Carol and Ethan came from Austin two weekends a month and every summer for twelve years for fun and company, and Scott came for weeks at a time to help with her work and provide care for the last ten years. For her last five years, Carol lived with her and provided care, lovingly supported by her granddaughter Izzy for the last year and a half, during which time they were lovingly assisted by Tamara, Grecia, Alyza, Andra and Thao, whom we deeply appreciate. They made her life and our family’s lives so much better.

The family will receive visitors on Saturday evening, January 28, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Heights Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Monday, January 30, 10:30 AM, reception 11:30-1:30 at Heights Funeral Home, with interment to follow the next day, Tuesday, January 31, 10:30 AM at Woodlawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family gently suggests donations to the Charles and Margie Denson Scholarship Endowment in the Department of Philosophy. The family established this fund when Charles passed in 2007. So if you are so inclined, you may use the link https://giving.uh.edu/gift/ or mail to University of Houston, Development Office, 400 E. Cullen Bldg., Houston, TX 77204-2013.

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