Margaret Z. Meador

September 2, 2018 from Lewy Body Dementia at Beth Sholom Healthcare

Center in Richmond, Va.

Margaret was born in Salem, Va. to parents Ruth Naff Zeigler and Elmer

Telling Zeigler. She was the oldest of three children and the only daughter.

The Zeiglers were blessed with a large extended family in Salem and the

surrounding area, and Margaret told stories of family gatherings with food,

music and much laughter. Margaret was an excellent student during her

years at Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, Va. where she developed

interests in music and the arts, and where she made friendships that lasted

her lifetime.

Following high school, Margaret left home for Richmond Professional

Institute (RPI), now Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, Va.

At RPI, she took classes in sculpture, drawing and painting and found a

particular passion for painting with oil on canvas. While attending RPI,

Margaret met the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Meador. Following a

whirlwind romance and Dick’s graduation from RPI, they married and

moved to Dick’s hometown of Waynesboro, Va.

Margaret and Dick settled into Waynesboro and soon started their own

family. By the time Margaret was 25, she had three young children to care

for and never a dull moment. Despite the time-consuming task of raising

three active children, she continued to pursue her artistic talents, and

began a lifelong interest in gardening. Margaret was an accomplished

seamstress, and made adorable outfits for her daughters and herself. She

also used her sewing talents on draperies, Halloween costumes and

beautiful, hand-stitched quilts for her home. Her talent for home decorating

led, for a while, to an Interior Design position with Barksdale Furniture in

Waynesboro.

In 1980, Dick and Margaret built a home on land that had been part of the

dairy farm on which Dick grew up. The gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge

Mountains from the property inspired Margaret to expand her gardening

talents, and she became a true gardener with impressive knowledge and

skill. Her artistic talents were able to shine in her creation of themed

gardens which flourished under her care. For years, Margaret was a

member of the Rosecliff Garden Club of Waynesboro where she was able

to use her gardening and flower arranging skills on many beautiful projects.

The entire Meador family loved to entertain at their home, especially if they

could be outside in the gardens or by the swimming pool enjoying that

fantastic view. Great memories were made at the Meador home in the

company of friends and family.

Over the years, Margaret continued to pursue her interest in artistic

painting and she turned her talents to painting needlepoint canvases as

well as furniture, but she never gave up her first love of oil on canvas. As

her children moved on to college and work, Margaret seriously pursued her

painting with further instruction at the Beverly Street Studio School. Her

paintings were shown several times and she sold quite a few of them,

though selling her art was never a priority.

Dick’s business and professional pursuits led the family to travel

opportunities near and far, but they always returned home to Waynesboro

and Margaret’s gardens. As Dick was planning his retirement, the couple

decided to follow Dick’s dream of building a ‘log cabin’ in the state of

Montana. After much enjoyable searching in their motor home, Dick and

Margaret settled on a piece of land near Whitefish, MT and built their

dream vacation home which Margaret designed and decorated. They loved

having friends and family visit and marvel at the beauty of Montana.

Whether in the Big Sky state of Montana or at home in Waynesboro, Va.,

Margaret and Dick never stopped being grateful for their good fortune.

Margaret was predeceased by both parents and by the love of her life, Dick

Meador. She is survived by brother Alan Zeigler and his wife Judy, and by

brother Joey Zeigler; by her children: David B. Meador and wife Sherry,

Laura M. Wadsworth and husband, Jay, and Amy M. Baker. She is also

survived by her grandchildren; Thomas Meador, Virginia Meador, Joseph

Wadsworth, Margaret Wadsworth, Grayson Baker and John Telling Baker.

Additionally, many nieces, nephews and cousins are among family

members and friends who will remember Margaret and her beautiful smile.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Beth Sholom Healthcare Center and

Heartland Hospice both in Richmond, Va. who lovingly cared for Margaret

in her last years. We also wish to express our heartfelt gratitude and love

for Cheryl Brogan, caretaker, caregiver, and loyal friend, without whom we

would have been lost.

The family will receive friends Thursday Oct. 4, 2018 from 4-6pm at McDow

Funeral Home, 1701 West Main St. Waynesboro, VA. A memorial service

followed by a reception is planned for Friday, Oct. 5 at 2pm, Fairfax Hall,

1101 Reservoir St, Waynesboro, Va.

If you wish to make a donation in Margaret’s memory, please consider:

Beth Sholom in Richmond, Va (bslcc.org) or the Lewy Body Dementia

Association (lbda.org).