Margaret Stedwell's Obituary
Margaret Stedwell was born July 7, 1920 in Schenectady, New York, as Margaret Elizabeth Johnson. Her father, Erling Lovdal Johnson, emigrated from Norway as a teenager. Her mother, Emma Cecilia Peterson, emigrated from Sweden as a teenager. Her parents met on Long Island and married in 1919. They settled in Schenectady, where her father worked in the power plant at the General Electric Company (GE). Upon completion of high school, Margaret took a business course and worked for Barney’s Department store. She found a job in the file room at GE and over twelve years worked her way up to executive secretary for the Vice-President of Purchasing. Outside of work she played the piano for her church and enjoyed horseback riding and bowling.
In October 1950 she met Marion J. Stedwell, commonly known as “Stew.” They married that Christmas Eve in Scotia Methodist Church and honeymooned while driving across country to their new home in Richland, Washington. On the way they stopped in Marion’s hometown of Wray, Colorado, so his family could meet his bride.
Stew worked at GE and Margaret was a homemaker and mother of daughters, Sandra (“Sandy”) and Elizabeth (“Betty Ann”). The couple became involved in Central United Protestant Church, serving as sponsors for the youth group, and were charter members of a young couples’ group, Kumdubls, through which they built life-long friendships. They played bridge regularly and the family enjoyed camping and traveling with their vacation trailer. Margaret taught Sunday School.
She was initiated into the P.E.O. sisterhood in Richland in 1961 and continued as an active member until her Pennsylvania chapter disbanded in 2010. She continued under the care of the Pennsylvania State chapter until her death. She took her turn in each officer position.
In 1963 the family moved to San Jose, California, where Stew continued working at GE. Margaret taught Sunday School and became Sunday School Superintendent at their new church, Calvin Presbyterian Church. She volunteered at the church’s Youth Club.
In 1977 Stew and Margaret relocated to Huntington, Connecticut so Stew could fulfill his next assignment with GE in Bridgeport. They joined Trumbull Congregational Church, where Margaret taught Sunday School. The couple joined a square dance group, played bridge with friends and volunteered in the Seton Shop of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport. They traveled to many places in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, to Canada, the Panama Canal, Europe, Japan and India.
Following the death of their first daughter, Sandra, in 2005, Stew and Margaret moved to Reading, Pennsylvania to live with Betty Ann. They joined Calvary United Methodist Church in Wyomissing. The following July, Stew passed away. They had been married 56 years.
In 2010, Margaret and Betty Ann moved to Richardson, Texas. They became charter members of Grace Redeemer Community Church. Margaret enjoyed volunteering at Christar, where she stuffed envelopes and built friendships with the other volunteers.
She is predeceased by her husband Marion J. Stedwell, daughter Sandra Sue Stedwell, brother and sister-in-law Earl and Marge Johnson and niece Linda Bancroft. She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth Ann Stedwell, nephews Mark Johnson (Lauren) and Kevin Johnson (Margaret), niece Sue Buniak (Ken), six great nephews and nieces and ten great-great nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Margaret may be made to Grace Redeemer Community Church, 4230 W. Buckingham Road, Garland, Texas 75042, or Christar, PO Box 851377, Richardson, Texas 75085-1377.
Throughout her life Margaret kept in contact with relatives and friends from each place she had lived. Thank you for the love you have shown to our family over the years.
What’s your fondest memory of Margaret?
What’s a lesson you learned from Margaret?
Share a story where Margaret's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Margaret you’ll never forget.
How did Margaret make you smile?