Elizabeth Osterhout Margerum died May 30. She was 83.
Mrs. Margerum worked at the County Press and associated newspapers in Delaware County, Pa. for 31 years, much of that time as society editor.
She also edited the Bits and Pieces and Health Briefs columns and wrote occasional articles. She was also the prime designer of many of the newspaper’s prize-winning floats in the Marple Newtown Fourth of July Parade.
She worked full-time until last year.
“She battled esophageal cancer for over three years,” her daughter Patricia said. “She did not let chemo or radiation stop her from anything. Even her doctors were amazed at how resilient she was at 81.”
She made her own jewelry and was a long-time member of the Tuscarora Lapidary Society.
She loved travel and the outdoors. She and her family camped up and down the East Coast for many years. She also visited many islands and even made it to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal just a few years ago. Her favorite place to spend time was in Plevna, Ontario, Canada, where she owned land, hiked, and fished. As she would say, it felt like an untouched part of the world.
“She looked at life through a 20 year old’s eyes and was always excited and interested in trying anything new,” Patricia said. “She never considered herself old.”
Mrs. Margerum was graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1947 and studied art at Lock Haven State.College. She lived in the Media area for 50 years, most recently in Upper Providence Township.
She was a long-time member of the Media Presbyterian Church.
She was married for 46 years to William B. Margerum IV of the Margerum family that long had a meat market in Reading Terminal.
She was predeceased by her husband; son David; daughter Tamara Lee; brother Donald P. Osterhout, Jr.,; sister Anne E. Chandler; and brother-in-law Bud Chandler.
Besides Patricia, she is survived by nephew Keith Chandler, niece Lee Anne Chandler, sister-in-law Trudi Osterhout and Osterhout nieces and nephew; Susan, Patty, and Peter.
Services will be held at Media Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, June 12, with visiting at 10 a.m. and Memorial Service at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Juvenile Diabetes Association or American Cancer Society.
Elizabeth O Margerum (1929-2013)
