Margaret Ann Hamilton was born in Everett, Washington on May 15, 1941; the youngest of three children born to Neal and Jeanette (Bode) Vander Vate. Growing up, she enjoyed the company of her oldest brother Gerald, and treasured every moment and adventure with her sister Joyce. As a little girl, Margaret loved picking berries in the summer, playing with her cousin Ken across the alley, and the smell of onions on her mother's hands as she laid her head in her lap while in church.
After attending Everett Christian School, Margaret graduated from Everett Public High School and Everett Junior College before attending Calvin College in 1961. Upon graduating with a degree in elementary education, Margaret applied and was accepted for a teaching position with the Department of Defense (teaching the children of US military men and women on Air Force bases around the world). Margaret loved to travel! While stationed abroad in both England and Japan, Margaret and Joyce took advantage of every opportunity to visit and explore as many cultures, countries, and sights as they could - snagging a piece of toilet paper at each new destination to add to her collection.
Upon returning to the states, Margaret taught at Ontario Christian School. It was while teaching at OC that she met Bob. Margaret and Bob married in 1977, bought a house in 1978, and were blessed with daughters Karen in '79 and Lisa in '80.
Margaret's love for children and passion for teaching continued throughout her entire life. In total, she taught 11 years at Ontario Christian School (in addition to serving on the school board), many years at Anna Borba Elementary, and 10 years on the Board of Directors for the Chino Basin Water Conservation District.
An avid gardener, Margaret much preferred yard work to dusting. As a member of First Chino URC, her love for the Lord fostered her participation in Berean's Bible Study, Project Philip, Vacation Bible School, the Hospitality Committee, and the church newsletter. Coffee and lunch dates, notes, emails, and texts with her "teacher friends", "church friends", "cancer friends", and even her "Iowa friends" filled each day with joy.
Dearly loved wife to Bob "her best and favorite caregiver" for 45 years, mother to her daughters and their husbands, Karen and Matt Van Schouwen (Orange County, IA) and Lisa and Phil Heynen (Visalia, CA), and grandmother (the kind who goes with you down the waterslides) to Tyler, Ryan, Kyra, and Ayva Van Schouwen and Daisy, Tony, and Robby Heynen.
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