Margaret Wrape

Mrs. Margaret Stowe Ware Wrape, 102, of Greensboro, North Carolina died on Sunday, May 5, 2019. She left this earth knowing unequivocally that she was dearly loved, valued, needed and cherished beyond measure to her last breath and beyond. Margaret was born to Ursula and John Fletcher Ware on March 7, 1917 in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Her survivors include two daughters, Deborah Stanton and her husband, Dwight, Molly Newton and her husband, Milton, two grandsons, Steve Newton of Sarasota, Florida and Bill Newton of Sisters, Oregon. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Van Wrape, her oldest daughter, Judy Wrape Fetzner and eight siblings.

Margaret was loved by all who knew her. She always, without fail thought of others before herself. She maintained a constant positive attitude that astonished many of her friends and family. She has a calmness of manner and a quiet composure that are so very much needed in this frenzied, sometimes frightening world in which we all live today. Her inner peace was palpable and so treasured by her family-we all realize how truly blessed we were to have had her so long.

Margaret lived in cities before finally moving to Burlington, North Carolina which she loved. She resided there 51 years before moving to Greensboro to live with her daughter, Debbie and her beloved son-in-law, Dwight for the last 13 years of her life. While in Burlington she was an active member of Davis Street United Methodist Church. She was President of the church’s now defunct Ollie Moser Circle.  She loved to host fancy “ladies lunches” in her home for the members of this Circle.  Her home was always a warm and welcoming haven for all who entered. Margaret also regularly delivered Meals on Wheels into her eighties.

Margaret was a very good Scrabble player and was an active member of two bridge clubs. She loved to read, do crossword puzzles and cook. She was indeed an excellent cook and had numerous family gatherings at her home during holidays, for birthday celebrations, etc. We all cherish the memories created during these times spent in her “cozy nest.”

Margaret also had a lovely singing voice and loved to dance. She also had a special gift of whistling beautifully which she always did as she progressed through her day. We all enjoyed hearing her whistling renditions of various melodies.

Mother loved birds and their singing; she loved flowers-especially magnolias and gardenias. You could always count on her having picked a large beautiful magnolia bloom from the enormous tree in her backyard and placing it afloat in a bowl on her dining room table. Also, when her many gardenia bushes were in bloom and you entered her home, the unique scent of those flowers permeated the house because she had placed the blooms in various rooms. Margaret loved the mountains, rain, storms, snow. She especially loved swinging in the covered swing on the deck of her Greensboro home while it was pouring rain listening to the sound of the wind chimes. She so enjoyed watching the deer and their precious fawns walking about in the backyard. She even had a special squirrel who sat in the front yard waiting for the food we provided for him/her every morning. She watched him every morning while having her morning coffee rocking in her special rocking chair.

Margaret eagerly anticipated “cocktail” hour with Dwight which began promptly at 4 o’clock daily. After watching golf, some various news programs, she and Dwight would watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Mother always had Fletcher, our 50 lb. English Bulldog by her side on the couch. All of the pets loved her-they were drawn to her quiet nature. She adored our Pekingese, Gladys and also our cat Lily Margaret.

In summary, Margaret Wrape lived a good life. She has a stoicism we all envied which enabled her to handle with grace and dignity all of the sadnesses she was forced to endure. We could all rely on her gentile counsel to help us when we experienced theses sad occasions with her as well as those we encountered in our own lives.

She is irreplaceable. To paraphrase a song, We search for phrases to sing her praises but she was simply too marvelous for words.

The family will host a Memorial Gathering to honor the life of Margaret on Thursday, May 23rd from 5:00-7:00PM at Lowe Funeral Home and Crematory located at 2205 S. Church Street, Burlington, North Carolina.

Memorials contributions can be made to Davis Street United Methodist Church, Burlington, North Carolina or to a charity of your choice.

You may sign the online register book at www.lowefuneralhome.com