Margaret Chamberlin Smith

Margaret Chamberlin Smith, 94, of Marion, IL, formerly of Anna, IL, died at 2:04AM Thursday, May 22, 2014 at Parkway Manor in Marion, IL.

Margaret was born on June 24, 1919 in Shelby County, Illinois to Frank and Lotty Chamberlin. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Tom Chamberlin. She is survived by a son, Bradley Don Smith of Marion and two daughters, Terri Fowler (Robert) of Port St. Lucie, FL and Brenda Edgar (Jim) of Springfield, IL.

She is, also survived by grandchildren, Mike (Robin) Fowler of GA, Tami Fowler of FL, Jodie and (Ron) Roppoccio of FL, Brad and (Stacey) Edgar of CO and Elizabeth and (Jon) Lowe of CO. Great grandchildren are Brendan and Connor Fowler, Bryan and Caitlyn Roppoccio, Dakota, Cali and Ellie Edgar, Jake and Cecilia Lowe.

Margaret received her B.S. degree in business education from Eastern Illinois University and her M.S. degree in business education from Southern Illinois University. She retired after 29 years of teaching in 1985. Twenty-three of those years were at Anna-Jonesboro Community High School.

She was a member of the Anna Methodist Church since 1960 and taught the B Square Sunday School Class for several years. She was a 60 year member of the Vienna Daniel Chapman Chapter of DAR. She was a WWII Veteran, having served as a WASP (Women’s Air Service Pilots) in 1944. The WASPS were militarized by Congress in 1977.

Many women at the start of WWII were compelled to contribute to the war effort. She went to St. Louis to learn Radio Code and went to Scott Air force Base where she taught Morse Code to pilots. While there, she was fascinated watching the flyers and loved to go barnstorming with a friend. Her dad approved taking flying lessons in nearby Mascoutah, Illinois. Soon she read about the new WASP program (Women’s Air Service Pilots) where she was one of a little over 1,000 women accepted in the program. She was the first to solo in her class.

Visitation will be from 11:30AM to 2:00PM, Tuesday, May 27,2014 with services beginning at 2PM at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro.

Burial will be at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Mattoon, Illinois

Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church of Anna.

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Margaret Chamberlin Smith