Margaret W. Stortz of Rehoboth Beach, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, following a series of health issues.  Margaret was born Sept. 14, 1924, in Bayonne, N.J., the youngest daughter of William J. and Nancy B. Ward.

The family of four girls grew up in Dover, where Margaret graduated from Dover High School in 1942.  She attended Syracuse University for a year before returning to Baltimore, where she worked in retail before she married William Clifford Stortz June 16, 1952.  Margaret started as a teacher’s assistant at The School of the Chimes in Baltimore, Md., now The Chimes School, eventually becoming its principal.  She earned her bachelor of science degree in early childhood education from the University of Maryland the same year her daughter Cathy graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute.  When she and Clifford retired to Rehoboth Beach, she assumed an active role in the community, serving as president of the VIA, president of the Stockley Center Auxiliary in Georgetown, as well as working with the All Saints’ Thrift Shop, the West Rehoboth Community Land Trust, the Soup Kitchen, and the Rehoboth Public Library.

In 2011 she was awarded the VIA’s third annual Citizenship Award. Throughout Margaret was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, serving on committees and encouraging everyone she encountered.

She is preceded in death by her daughter Rosa Catherine; her husband Clifford; her sisters Betty Somerville, Isabella Ward, and Georgia Hyatt; and her nephews Chuck Hyatt and Jimmy Somerville.  She is survived by her daughter Martha E. Stortz of Minneapolis, Minn.; and her niece Nancy Somerville Martin and her husband Phil Martin of Hartly.

Services will be held at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road in Rehoboth Saturday, Feb. 16, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., services at 11 a.m., and lunch immediately following.

Her daughter acknowledges with gratitude the sturdy support of the rehab team at Cadia Renaissance in Millsboro, the medical team at Beebe Medical Centerl in Lewes, her neighbors at Spring Lake, and her church family at Our Savior.  Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium.

Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Church of Our Savior and the Stockley Center.  And, as Margaret would say: “Hurrah for God!”