Margaret Ora Quillen
April 8, 1933 ~ January 18, 2015
Margaret Ora Quillen, 81, lifelong Morgan County resident, died peacefully in the company of her loving family January 18, 2015, at the Bickford of Greenwood. Margaret was born April 8, 1933, in Morgan County. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Cecil and Virginia Catherine (Zenor) VanWinkle and her step-mother, Martha Head VanWinkle.
She graduated from Martinsville High School and from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. Margaret worked as a school nurse for the Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation for 17 years, retiring in 1991. As a school nurse, she was known for her kind, gentle manner, often asking the students to just “rest on the magic bed” for a few minutes to feel better. Margaret was a member of the Mooresville First Christian Church. She enjoyed reading, traveling, adventures with her lady friends, but especially taking care of her family. Her door was always open, and she delighted in making other feel special. Margaret will be dearly missed and forever celebrated by a loving family and many friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Charles F. Quillen.
Survivors include her children, Dr. Jeff B. Quillen (Jacolyn) and their children, John Charles and Jillian Quillen; Jennifer Q. Shoup (Ron) and their son, Konor Shoup; Jayne Q. Jackson (Jeff) and children, Emily Jackson (Kurt) and Lindsay Bubalo (Brett) children, Cole and Mackenzie; her step-sisters, Barbara Ward (Robert) and Linda Sprague (Robert).
Friends and family will gather to celebrate Margaret’s life on Saturday, January 24, 2015, from 1 to 3 p.m., in the chapel at Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, Mooresville. A service will begin at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Rev. David Stout will officiate. Inurnment for Charles and Margaret will take place later in White Lick Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Visit www.CarlisleBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
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Loved Margaret. The green shag carpet she and Charlie had in the family room will always represent hospitality to me. Her laugh was contagious!
Jenny, Thanks for letting me know of your mothers passing. It was so sad to hear this. We were such dear friends, and had many memories from nurses training, and a couple of cruises we took together while Charles and Frank worked for Meridian mutual. She was always fun to be around, She will be sincerely missed. Willu Martin
Jenny, My brothers called last weekend to inform me of the sad news of your mother’s passing. I remember she was one of the first to move into Bickford and I remember the nurses telling me that Margaret was eagerly awaiting my mom’s arrival! I think Don was the only other one there at the time! I loved your mom! She was so sweet and had a wonderful sense of humor. I would have loved to have known her in her day. What a remarkable woman she was! God was ready to take her to a very, very special place in heaven He has waiting for all of our precious moms. All of our lives are in His hands. May God grant you a sense of strength and peace that only He can give. You and your family are in our prayers. Helen Weeden family: Dan Weeden Steve Weeden Cindy Weeden DeJulio Jenny Weeden Klepetka Jenny, I will miss seeing you at Bickford!
Wow, couldn’t have been bsaid any better! I love our Bickford family!
Jeff, Jenny and Jayne, I am sorry about your loss. I feel like I lost a close family member as well. Alot of life’s lessons were learned from your mother and father. Both of them are in my heart everyday. I miss them both dearly. I am happy that they are together again. They were definitely hand picked for eachother by God. With love, Steve Andrew, Jr. and Kerrie ,
Jenny and Jayne I was so saddened to learn of Margaret’s passing. Beth came to visit mom at Greenwood Meadows today and that’s when I learned about it. Mom and I both thought so much of Margaret. One could just look at her sweet, smiling face and see her inner beauty. She was always so friendly and pleasant to everyone. Mom had a connection to Margaret from the time she met her and I think that is because they shared so much in the way they adored their families and had taken care of them–and a love that was greatly returned to them by their children. Mom always wanted to sit at the dining table with Margaret and enjoyed being with her. My husband, John, always enjoyed Margaret too and liked to tease her and she would laugh at him, and kind of give it back to him. We are going to miss her so much, and also miss you Jenny and Jayne. John and I are so sorry we didn’t know in time to pay our respects in person for Margaret and her family at the funeral home. I know Margaret is in a better place but she will be sorely missed by us and so many others. I’ll be praying for peace and comfort for you all. Always feel good about the way you cared for your mom. It was so evident to me how much you loved her, and likewise of her love for you. Jenny you spent so much time at Bickford with Margaret. I looked forward to not only seeing Margaret, but you as well. God bless and comfort each family member and friend With our deepest sympathy, Gaye and John Dickey and Thelma Shearls
Jay and I are so sorry for your loss. I loved listening to her stories when I worked with her at Newby. She was a very special person. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
I remember so well her wonderful smile, so sorry to hear of this loss. Dona (Potts) Stein
I had a lot of good times at the Quillen houses growing up. Good memories and Margaret always made me feel welcome and was very kind. My mother often talks about her and Margaret growing up as childhood friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Quillen family tonight. God Bless all of you in your time of loss. Terry & Bonnie Woods
While I can probably count on both hands (plus a few more digits) the number of times I met with Margaret over the course of my life, she never failed to make me smile. I always enjoyed the interactions and certainly looked forward to them. Many of the times I saw her I was visiting my grandparents who lived far from me, but just across a small field from her in Hadley Woodland. Me and my brother Chris would wander down and she would make us feel right at home. What I can tell you is that I ALWAYS enjoyed talking with her, hearing her stories, listening to her laughter and being in her presence. The fact that she gave my dad (her cousin) some grief made it all the more delicious. She was just a kick to be around and she had a different perspective on life. For that, I will always remember her fondly and know I will smile when thinking of her. Nathan Stout and Family
Margaret and I have been life long friends, even after I moved to Washington State. There are so many stories that I could tell about our escapades when we were growing up. I last visited with her in August this year at Greenwood when my daughter and I came to Indiana. You have lost a great Mom. Norma Miles, Lynnwood, Washington
So sorry for your loss (and ours). Margaret and Charles were my neighbors for over 30 years. What a great and funny lady she was!
As a very young girl in Martinsville I remember one very beautiful Margaret VanWinkle whom I admired at a distance. She was a candidate for queen of something. Anyway, when I saw her name, I thought of that beautiful petite girl of 64 years ago.
Although I only met Margaret a few times, Dan knew her most of his life, and he had fond memories of her. She always remembered me and Dan at Christmas with a card and a letter. During the 15 years Dan battled Leukemia, she wrote many letters to him keeping him up to day on the happenings in her family and the neighborhood. It was such a wonderful thing she did for him. She was a very nice lady, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet her. She will be missed. My condolences to the Quillen family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
So sorry for the passing of Margaret! Not only was she a family friend and my school nurse at Newby and Paul Hadley, I will miss her beautiful smile at Bickford!! Much love and hugs!!
~ Andrea (Pygman) Napier and the Pygman family
Dear Jeff: When I saw your mother’s obituary in the paper last night, it brought back two memories from my youth: (1) you used to be a pretty good basketball player and (2) my mother apparently went to school with Margaret and I remember her telling me what a nice Christian lady she was. My mother was also a woman with a strong faith in God. She succumbed to multiple sclerosis in 1992. I am so sorry for your loss. Fortunately for us, God is faithful to His promises. I Cor. 2:9 Sincerely, Randy Wells
Dear Family of Margaret, I was so shocked and saddened to hear of Margaret’s passing today, having just visited with her two weeks ago. Jose’, B’Elanna, and I will greatly miss her smiling face at The Bickford. She was always so happy every time we saw her. Her smile was contagious, and she was a very special friend to us that I will always remember. Jose’ will miss giving her kisses and listening to her coo at him. RIP Margaret. Sincerely, Jackie Pondy Jose, and B’Elanna
Margaret was a loving generous soul. I was a classmate at Methodist and we helped each other get through. Charles was there so often he was a class member. Margaret is one of those remarkable people never to be forgotten.
Margaret, you lit up my life the very first moment I met you at Bickford. I knew from there on you would forever hold a place in my heart! You have wonderful children and grandchildren! I am so extremely honored to know them and be apart of their lives. I learned so much about your past through them. I have always said to Jenny, man do I wish I knew you before Bickford. But it never failed that when your family came in I always got to learn something new about your past! That magic bed. I can just see you talking to the kids and having them lay on that bed.. At first when I heard about that bed, I said I’m sure that’s why all the kids came there, for that magic bed. But the more I got to know you, it wasn’t the bed that was magic, it was the love you gave to everyone. Your smile was out of this world. The way you would pat our faces whenever we would talk to you. I always called you ‘Mother’ and you would laugh so hard and would look at Jenny or Jayne like I was crazy!! The love you had will forever be in my heart. We will always and forever cherish your laughter at Bickford. I loved to sit back and watch you interacting with everyone. Whether it was with kids, dogs, staff or the other residents. You always made it a point to stop and talk to each and every person you came in contact with. I love you Mother and I’ll forever miss you. In my heart you’ll stay.
Margaret what a beautiful and kind soul you are. Forever in our hearts. You will be missed but never forgotten. When you came to live with us at Bickford of Greenwood you carried a coffee mug and picture around of your 2 favorite guys #44 and #18. And we would joke around how they where my boyfriend’s and you tell me no I was mistaken they are your boyfriends. I am so blessed that I got to be part of your life , your children and grand children. Gonna miss that laugh and smile.
Margaret was always so generous and welcoming to her children’s friends. She was always quick with a smile, a hug, or a joke. She and Charlie were treasures that will always be fondly remembered and greatly missed.
Margaret and I were friends in the same class at IMH and remained in contact with each other for several years following our graduation. She laughed heartily when she told the story about how she became concerned because her first baby had developed an ‘orange’ skin. She consulted with a doctor who said, ‘quit feeding him so much carrots!’. As nurses we were very diligent about our following the rules for healthy eating habits–maybe to a fault!