Margaret Louise Martin Womble, age 97, devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother, died November 8, 2012 at Durham, N.C.
A native of Conway, she was born April 16, 1915. She was the daughter of the late Alvah Hubert Martin and the late Irene Evelyn Elliott. After graduating from Conway High School in1932, she attended and graduated from East Carolina Teachers College (now East Carolina University) in 1936 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. She was married to the late Edward Lee Womble for 52 years and they made their home in Rich Square. A lifelong educator, she taught at Conway High School, Plymouth High School, Rich Square School, and Northeast Academy in Lasker, where she retired in 1975 from teaching Third Grade. A long-time member of Rich Square Baptist Church, she served there in many capacities, including the Women’s Missionary Union, and as a Sunday School teacher and pianist. She was a member of the Rich Square Garden Club and the Kirby Music and Literary Society.
Mrs. Womble served her country during World War II in the United States Navy WAVES. Upon completion of basic training at Cedar Falls, Iowa, she was assigned to the naval communications station at Minneapolis, Minnesota for the duration of the war, achieving the rank of Telegrapher Second Class. At the time of her death she was one of the oldest female veterans in North Carolina. She was a charter member of the Women In Military Service For America Memorial at Arlington, Virginia.
She was also predeceased by three brothers, Alvah Hubert Martin, Jr., Archibald Franklin Martin, and George Elliott Martin.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Lee Bailey and husband Jeff of Durham; two sons, Edward Franklin Womble and wife Gloria of Suffolk, Virginia, and Wayne Louis Womble and wife Sylvia of Arden; and two grandsons, Edward Bradley Bailey and Matthew Charles Bailey of Durham.
The family wishes to thank Home Instead Senior Care of Durham caregivers and staff, and the staff of Community Home Care and Hospice.
I will never know what I did to be so lucky to have a grandmother like her. She was the absolute best in every way. Her love for Matthew and I was unmatched and the care she showed us was unmatched by anything. She will always be in my heart and missed forever.
I am so sorry to hear that Mrs. Womble has died. She was my teacher, friend, mentor and role model. She got me interested in the Rich Square Garden Club and we shared many wonderful times together. The town of Rich Square, the Garden Club, Northeast Academy,The Rich Square Baptist Church and MANY other organizations and persons are better because of her ingfluence. Thank God for people like her. I was blessed to call her my “friend”. susie
Mrs. Womble will be deeply missed. A Veterans Day funeral for a long time Veteran. God Bless Mrs. Womble.
Having Margaret as a mother in law was a true blessing and she would always say, we are not in laws but in love. I have many wonderful memories of her, but the one most precious to me would be our helicopter ride in Hawaii. As she, Wayne and I were getting ready to climb in I wanted to back out. She took my hand and said, this will be fun and we will get to see so many things that we cannot see from the ground. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever done and watching her enjoy the ride was just as beautiful. As I close my eyes, I can see her on this amazing ride pointing out all the breath taking and peaceful scenery in heaven. Rest in peace beautiful lady.
I will always remember Mrs. Womble as a very kind and giving person. She was my third grade teacher. Once we had an assignment to bring in something from nature. One student brought in what we thought was an old hornet’s nest. It stayed in the classroom for some time. Then one morning we came in and there were thousands of praying mantis babies all over the wall! It was an exciting day for us, but Mrs. Womble held it together well during the episode.
She always made a point to speak to us when we came back to church to visit. I know she will be greatly missed.
Mary Lee and all,
I will be etrernally blessed from knowing and working with Mrs.Womble. She was a fine lady and had one awsome sense of humor. I have many fond memories which include her. God be with you all. Anna