Margaret Petty
Margaret V. “Peggy” (Fenimore) Petty, 85, of Swarthmore, PA, died Wednesday at The Hickman in West Chester, PA. Born in Collingdale, PA, raised in Folcroft, she was the daughter of Joseph D. and Helen M. (Wenerd) Fenimore. She graduated from Upper Darby HS in 1946 and the University of Pennsylvania in 1950, where she was active in Kappa Delta, student government, yearbook staff, Christian Association, and Green Lane Camp counselors. She then completed her MS in Ed from Penn’s Graduate School of Education. Certified to teach English, Latin, French, and Spanish at the secondary level, Margaret began her career in Haddon Twp., NJ. Then, having always dreamed of foreign travel, Margaret pursued an opportunity to teach children of military families stationed abroad for the US Department of Defense. She spent 6 years teaching in Japan, England, Libya and France, and traveling extensively through Asia, Europe and North Africa, before returning to Delaware County to teach Latin and French at Springfield HS. Married in 1962, Margaret moved to MCAS Cherry Point, NC, returning once again with her young daughter to her native Delaware County after her husband was killed in action in Vietnam. In 1969 she began yet another stage in her career, teaching English as a Second Language at the University of Pennsylvania. Margaret served as a teacher, administrator, counselor, advocate, and friend for thousands of students and many fellow ESL teachers. In 1986-87, Margaret served as a Fulbright Professor at the National University of Honduras in Tegucigalpa, where she helped develop a program to train teachers of English. She retired from Penn in 1994 as a proud member of their “25-Year Club” of long-serving faculty members. In her retirement, Margaret continued to enjoy traveling, studying history and languages, and spending time with family and friends throughout the US and Europe. She particularly treasured time with her beloved grandsons. Margaret has been a resident of Swarthmore for 47 years, and a Quaker her entire adult life. She was a member of Darby Friends Meeting, and active with Swarthmore Friends Meeting in recent years, Margaret was predeceased by her husband, John R. Petty, Jr., and her dear cousin and childhood best friend, James McAleer. She is survived by daughter Virginia “Jinny” Schiffer and son-in-law Richard D. Schiffer, Jr., of Swarthmore, PA; sister Helen M. McAfee of Johnstown, PA; grandsons Charles E. and Joseph R. Schiffer; and many other loving relatives and friends. A Memorial Meeting will be held Saturday April 5, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Swarthmore Friends Meetinghouse, 12 Whittier Place, Swarthmore, PA. Burial will be in the Petty family plot in Gallatin, TN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Friends Service Committee. Arrangements by Kevin M. Lyons Funeral Service, Glenolden, PA. Online condolences and memories may be placed on www.lyonsfs.comObituary
Margaret V. “Peggy” (Fenimore) Petty, 85, of Swarthmore, PA, died Wednesday at The Hickman in West Chester, PA. Born in Collingdale, PA, raised in Folcroft, she was the daughter of Joseph D. and Helen M. (Wenerd) Fenimore. She graduated from Upper Darby HS in 1946 and the University of Pennsylvania in 1950, where she was active in Kappa Delta, student government, yearbook staff, Christian Association, and Green Lane Camp counselors. She then completed her MS in Ed from Penn’s Graduate School of Education. Certified to teach English, Latin, French, and Spanish at the secondary level, Margaret began her career in Haddon Twp., NJ. Then, having always dreamed of foreign travel, Margaret pursued an opportunity to teach children of military families stationed abroad for the US Department of Defense. She spent 6 years teaching in Japan, England, Libya and France, and traveling extensively through Asia, Europe and North Africa, before returning to Delaware County to teach Latin and French at Springfield HS. Married in 1962, Margaret moved to MCAS Cherry Point, NC, returning once again with her young daughter to her native Delaware County after her husband was killed in action in Vietnam. In 1969 she began yet another stage in her career, teaching English as a Second Language at the University of Pennsylvania. Margaret served as a teacher, administrator, counselor, advocate, and friend for thousands of students and many fellow ESL teachers. In 1986-87, Margaret served as a Fulbright Professor at the National University of Honduras in Tegucigalpa, where she helped develop a program to train teachers of English. She retired from Penn in 1994 as a proud member of their “25-Year Club” of long-serving faculty members. In her retirement, Margaret continued to enjoy traveling, studying history and languages, and spending time with family and friends throughout the US and Europe. She particularly treasured time with her beloved grandsons. Margaret has been a resident of Swarthmore for 47 years, and a Quaker her entire adult life. She was a member of Darby Friends Meeting, and active with Swarthmore Friends Meeting in recent years, Margaret was predeceased by her husband, John R. Petty, Jr., and her dear cousin and childhood best friend, James McAleer. She is survived by daughter Virginia “Jinny” Schiffer and son-in-law Richard D. Schiffer, Jr., of Swarthmore, PA; sister Helen M. McAfee of Johnstown, PA; grandsons Charles E. and Joseph R. Schiffer; and many other loving relatives and friends. A Memorial Meeting will be held Saturday April 5, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Swarthmore Friends Meetinghouse, 12 Whittier Place, Swarthmore, PA. Burial will be in the Petty family plot in Gallatin, TN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Friends Service Committee. Arrangements by Kevin M. Lyons Funeral Service, Glenolden, PA. Online condolences and memories may be placed on www.lyonsfs.com
Events
02:00 PM
Swarthmore, PA 19081