Margaret Barnes White, 89, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, at her home following a period of declining health.
She was born December 13, 1922, in Columbus, the daughter of Earl and Florence (Marsh) Barnes. She attended Wayne County one-room schools, grades 1 through 8, at Maple Grove in Chester Township and Wooster Township, in a building now located at the Wooster Historical Society.
After graduation from Wooster High School in 1940, she studied chemistry at the University of Oklahoma. There she met and married Wendell Jones White in 1942. He died in 1953 and she returned to Wooster in 1957 to raise their four children and to complete her education.
Margaret graduated from the College of Wooster in 1960 and received a Masters of Arts degree from Kent State University in 1961. She joined the Psychology Department at the College of Wooster where she taught for 23 years and became an associate professor.
Professionally, Margaret specialized in child development. She was instrumental in bringing a pre-school program, started by a Wooster women?s civic group, into the College.
In its relationship with the College, the pre-school gained status and financial stability. The College gained an innovative child development learning laboratory for generations of psychology and education students.
The pre-school emphasized creative play and nature in its curriculum. Margaret, Clare Adel Schreiber and pre-school staff presented programs on the pre-school as a laboratory and its curriculum at national conferences.
In 1984 Margaret retired to Clearwater, Florida, where over 23 years she made many friends, volunteered at nature sanctuaries, participated in birding activities and developed a bountiful rose garden in partnership with her longtime friend and companion George Bart. Margaret returned to Wooster in 2007.
Throughout her life, Margaret was devoted to her family and cherished her companion dogs, of which there were many. She was a life-long advocate for education and children, and she appreciated rural life, nature and all animals.
Margaret was pre-deceased by brothers George Barnes and Clarence (Bud) Barnes, and sisters, Mary Schuth, Dorothy Hoffman, and Carol Barnes.
She is survived by her brother, Allen Barnes (Joanne) of McKinney, Texas; children, Tom White (Kim) of Lincoln, Nebraska, Bill White (Glenda) of Monte Rio, California, Carol White Millhoan (Dexter) of West Salem, Ohio, Marsha White (Eric) of Santa Ynez, California; and, grandchildren Dylan Durst of Tehachapi, California, Ashley Barrington of New York City, Jessica Barrington of West Salem, Ohio, and Bill Barrington of Raleigh, North Carolina.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, January 14, in Mackey Hall, Westminster Church House, 353 East Pine Street, Wooster.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to either The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20037 or the Schreiber-White Scholarship Fund for The College of Wooster Nursery School, c/o Office of Development, The College of Wooster, 1101 N. Bever St., Wooster, Ohio, 44691.
McIntire, Davis & Greene Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
Memorial Contributions
The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St., NW, Washington, DC 20037 or the Schreiber-White Scholarship Fund for The College of Wooster Nursery School, c/o Office of Development, The College of Wooster, 1101 N. Bever St., Wooster, OH 44691
Service
Memorial Service on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in Mackey Hall, Westminster Church House, 353 E. Pine St., Wooster
Visitation
No Calling hours
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