Obituary of Margaret H. Findlay

Margaret Hope Findlay, 89, formerly of 365 Hallock St. Jamestown, died Saturday (February 20, 2010) in the Rouse Home, Youngsville, PA. She was the widow of Allen R. Findlay whom she married July 2, 1949 at Busti, NY and who died March 13, 2002. A lifelong area resident, she was born January 10, 1921 at Busti, NY the daughter of Ira Earl and Charlotte Sanbury Hamilton. She was a 1938 honor graduate of Jamestown High School. She earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees from New York State University at Fredonia in elementary education. After teaching one year at Alexander Central School, NY, she taught 33 years in the elementary grades of the Jamestown Public Schools, retiring in 1976. She and her husband were world travelers. Some of the countries visited were the Soviet Union now Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Morocco, and most of the European countries. After each trip, she made a comprehensive scrapbook. She traveled in all fifty states. She was a collector of fine art and antique art glass. Her interests were also in reading, history, following politics, bird watching, and nature. She had been a member of Busti Federated Church since 1938. She was also a member of Southern Chautauqua County Retired Teachers Association, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International of Women Educators, the One Hundred Member Club of Jamestown High School Alumni, National Audubon Society since 1958, and Jamestown Audubon Society since 1958, Fenton History Center, Museum, and Library, American Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, Ingjald Lodge no. 65 Independent Order of Vikings, charter Member of National Women's History Museum, National American Association of Retired Persons and the Jamestown Chapter of AARP, Marvin House, Jamestown Concert Association, Lucille Ball Little Theater of Jamestown, West Side Women's Club, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and its Ornithological Club, Friends of Peterson, and Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. She was a member of the Alumni Association of Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle graduating with the class of 1994. Through the years she had held various offices in the church and some of these organizations. Surviving is her care giver Jane Fosberg, and her nieces and nephews, Lucinda Miller, Carol Judd, Bruce Crist, Barry Crist, Norman Blackmer, Ronald Blackmer, Mary Kay Mason, Jonathan Hamilton, Bradley Hamilton, Wilson Hamilton, Gail Kazmar, and Margaret Bermudez. She was preceded in death by a brother, Roger E. Hamilton, four sisters, Helen McIntyre, Grace Fosberg, Beatrice Bensink, Avis H. Blackmer; and two nephews, Gary and Kent Fosberg. At her request, her body will be donated to the University of Buffalo, Department of Anatomical Science, School of Medicine, Farber Hall Buffalo, NY. A memorial service will be held in the Busti Federated Church at a later date. Inurnment will be in Busti Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Allen R. and Margaret H. Findlay Fund of Chautauqua Region Community Foundation which includes Busti Federated Church, Jamestown Audubon Society, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, and the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy.