Her journey began on the 5th of October 1928 in Indian Head, Maryland as one of 8 children, born to the union of her parents, Frank & Anna Grabis.
Margaret grew up in southern Maryland and graduated high school from Lackey High at 17 years old.
Right across from her home was the local parish, where Margaret worked and was very faithful. She also held other odd jobs, such as working at a gun-powder factory and as a clerk for the FBI branch office in Maryland.
Later, Margaret started working at People’s Drug store, in both the Cosmetics department, and as a Soda-fountain girl.
And this is where she met her co-worker and future husband-to-be, Charles Walters.
The couple were married in 1947, when Margaret was 19.
Many years later, Margaret and Charles decided to adopt children of their own. First, on May 20th 1966, they adopted their daughter, Charlotte, and 2 years later, they adopted their son Edward on November 21st 1968.
Margaret was a full-time stay-at-home mom throughout her children’s childhood. She was a loving and caring mother and adored both of her kids immensely.
When Charlotte & Edward turned 11 and 12 years old, Margaret went back to work at People’s again, as a Pharmacy clerk.
In 1989, Margaret’s husband Charles passed away, after 45 years of marriage.
She continued to work full-time until the early 1990s, when she began working on a part time schedule until she fully retired in 2003, at the age of 75.
After her retirement, Margaret moved in with her daughter Charlotte and her family. One of her biggest joys was that she was able to help raise her grandchildren. Being a grandmother was a role that Margaret cherished very much.
Margaret was loving, sweet, caring, sincere, strong, intelligent, bright and personable. She was also very beautiful.
She was very much a “people-person” with a magnetic personality. And you felt very special if she called you “Puddin”.
She enjoyed fresh flowers and gardening, the color purple, country and big band music, doing crossword puzzles and watching her favorite TV shows – Jeopardy, the Wheel of Fortune and any TV show with John Walsh, such as In Pursuit and America’s Most Wanted.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Charles Walters, her sisters Annie Livesay & Francis Pagent and her 3 brothers – Willie, Andrew, Eddie Grabis.
Those who remain to cherish Margaret’s memory include:
• Her Daughter – Charlotte (with Raymond) Miller
• Her Son – Edward (with Julie) Walters
• Her Grandchildren – Michael, Matthew and Raymond, Brian,
• Rae-Lynn, Edie, Brittany, Joy, Julie, Jennifer & Justin
• 8 GREAT Grandchildren and
• Her Sister – Emma Baden & Agnes Dearstine
Amongst Margaret’s belongings was a newspaper clipping with this beautiful poem:
When tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand
That an angel came and called my name
and took me by the hand.
The angel said my place was ready
In Heaven, far above
And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But when I walked through Heaven’s gates
I felt so much at home
For God looked down and smiled at me
And told me “Welcome Home.”
So, when tomorrow starts without me
Don’t think we’re far apart
For every time you think of me
I’m right there in your heart.
We will all miss Margaret Walters. And we will treasure her deeply in our hearts, forever.
A Memorial Service will be held at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home in Marysville, Washington on 6 June 2020 at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in Margaret’s honor.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at the Schaefer-Shipman website for the Walters family.
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