Margaret Childs Armstrong

Margaret Childs Armstrong, 87, died at home on October 30, dignified and full of grace, after a courageous battle with leukemia. Born in Williamsburg, Virginia, on March 21, 1926, she was the second child of Willa Whitson Childs and Harwood Lawrence Childs. Her father was a long-time professor of political science at Princeton University and founder of the journal Public Opinion Quarterly.

Margie, as she was known to her friends, grew up in Princeton, and was a graduate of Princeton High School, where she was a member of the girls’ tennis team and played the flute in the orchestra. An outstanding student, she won prizes for the highest four-year average of those heading to college, the highest three-year average in French, and the highest average in science. She represented Princeton High School in a conference of New Jersey secondary schools at Rutgers University, speaking on the subject of “Radio Is Part of My English Curriculum.” At her graduation she was the concluding student speaker on the topic “Freedom from Want.” She was runner-up for class president, and was voted by her classmates “Most Attractive” and “The Girl “Most Likely to Succeed,” and was runner-up for “Most Talented Girl” and “Most Popular Girl.”

At Wellesley College, she was a political science major, and was the coxswain of the freshman crew. During World War II she spent her summers and vacation periods in Washington, D.C., working at the Library of Congress and for the War Production Board. As a Wellesley alum she was asked to serve as president of her class, but declined because of her church and family obligations. She agreed, however, to serve in the less demanding role of vice president. What is unusual about this is that her two sisters, Betty Ann and Martha, were serving as vice presidents of their respective Wellesley classes at the same time! That may never have happened before or since at any college.

As a young girl Margie was very involved in the theater. Her high school performance as Emily in Our Town was talked about for years afterward. She played the part of Blossom in McCarter Theatre’s premiere production of Susan and God, with Ilka Chase. She was invited to be in the Broadway production of the same play, but her parents did not want her to embark on a stage career at such a young age. Margie also appeared in other plays, including the history-making production of Shakespeare’s Othello, starring Paul Robeson, Jose Ferrer, and Uta Hagen.

In January, 1948, Margie married Richard Stoll (Dick) Armstrong (Princeton ’46) and together they embarked on his exciting career as a baseball front office executive. When, following the 1955 season, Dick resigned from the Baltimore Orioles to enter Princeton Theological Seminary, Margie devoted herself to joining her husband in his new calling. As a pastor’s wife she was compassionate, intelligent, creative, calm, organized, a wonderful cook, an artistic hostess. When Dick later joined the faculty of Princeton Seminary she entertained hundreds of his students. Above all else she loved God, her husband, and her family.

Margie and Dick loved to travel, taking their young family all over the United States, and in later years leading groups of friends on many international tours. She also accompanied Dick on his speaking and teaching engagements throughout North America and abroad. She will be missed by friends all over the world.

On Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941, Margie joined the First Presbyterian Church (now Nassau Presbyterian Church) of Princeton, New Jersey, where she remained a member, except for periods when she identified with the churches where her husband was serving as pastor.

Margie’s mother-in-law said that with her soft brown eyes and her radiant smile she would always be beautiful. She was.

In addition to her devoted husband of nearly 66 years, Margie is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Ellen and Michael Kanarek, her son and daughter-in-law Andrew and Caroline Armstrong, her son and daughter-in-law William (Woody) and Christine Armstrong, her daughter and son-in-law the Reverend Elsie and Thomas Rhodes, her grandson Derek Kanarek and his wife Rebecca, her grandson Graham Kanarek and his wife Marnie, her grandson Orion Kanarek, her granddaughters Alyssa and Olivia Armstrong, her grandsons Seth Olsen and Samuel Rhodes, her great-grandsons Charlie, Will, Gabriel, and Julian, and by her sister and brother-in-law Martha and L. Edwin Sproul. She was predeceased by her older sister Elizabeth Ann Rowse Graham and by her first son Richard Stoll Armstrong, Jr.

The burial was private. Friends were able to visit the family at Princeton Windrows, 2000 College Road West (609-514-0001) from 10 a.m. to noon. on Saturday, November 2. A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 18, at 2 p.m. in the Princeton University Chapel.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Willa and Harwood Childs Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Princeton Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 821, Princeton, N.J. 08542-0803, or to the Richard S. Armstrong, Jr. Scholarship Fund at the American Boychoir School, 75 Mapleton Road, Unit 4, Princeton, N.J. 08540.

Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

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Marjory G. Marvel

Marjory Gillingham Marvel (Midge), longtime Princeton resident, died on October 22 at Buckingham’s Choice retirement community in Adamstown, Md. She was 93.

Midge was born in Melrose, Mass. She attended Connecticut College, and graduated from Iowa State University in 1942, with a degree in Child Development. During World War II, Midge was a head teacher at the innovative Child Care Center, Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, caring for the children of “Rosie the Riveter.”

In 1947, she married the late William W. Marvel (Bill), former president of Education and World Affairs in New York, member of Princeton Township Committee, and Princeton School Board. After their marriage, the Marvels moved to Princeton where Bill completed his PhD at Princeton University.

While living in Princeton and raising a family, Midge was a volunteer at Princeton Hospital as a “pink lady.” She was also very active in the Princeton Garden Club and the First Presbyterian Church (now Nassau Presbyterian Church). Beginning in the mid-1960’s, Midge returned to the work force, holding various administrative positions at the University. In 1971, Midge co-founded the Princeton University Women’s Organization, comprised of female staff, faculty, and students, working with the University administration on women’s issues during the early days of coeducation.

After moving to Philadelphia in 1973 when Bill became president of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Midge earned a MEd in adult education from Temple University. Thereafter, she became the co-founder of the Coalition for the Education and Placement of Women in Philadelphia. At Rosemont College, she was the director of the Rosemont Educational Advancement Program, a comprehensive program for women resuming their education at Rosemont College.

After Bill’s death in 1978, Midge moved to the Washington, D.C. area. There she was the co-founder and president of the National Coalition of Older Women’s Issues and the coordinator of Continuing Education Counseling at George Mason University.

For the last 15 years of her career, Midge was a senior program specialist with the AARP Grief and Loss Programs, working with volunteers in the Widowed Persons Service and establishing the Grandparent Information Center (now Grandfacts) with a grant from the Brookdale Foundation. After retiring from AARP in 2000 at the age of 80, Midge moved to Buckingham’s Choice where she was active in the education and music committees.

Midge is survived by a daughter, Nancy J. Marvel of Piedmont, Calif, a son, Thomas E. Marvel of Montgomery Village, Md, and two grandchildren, Katharine E. Birnbaum and Emily H. Birnbaum.

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Mary E. Gerber

Mary E. Gerber, 93, of Princeton, died Monday, October 28, 2013 at the Pavilions at Forrestal Skilled Nursing Center.

Born in Ithan, Pa. she was a resident of Princeton since 1925. She was a graduate of Princeton High School, Class of 1939. She was a member of the US Army WAC’S during World War II. Upon leaving the service, she was Judge Gerber’s legal secretary for three years; then worked at Marsh & Co. as a bookkeeper for 30 years. She joined Nassau Savings & Loan in the Mortgage Department in 1980 as a mortgage closing officer.

An avid gardener, she was a member of New York Horticultural Society, the American Horticultural Society, and the Dogwood Garden Club. A true friend to so many who loved her and will miss her dearly.

Daughter of the late Gustav and Mary E. (Koehler) Behrens, wife of the late Judge Louis Gerber.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 1, 2013 at Princeton Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home of Princeton.