Margaret Umberger Holton, 89, of Chapel Hill, died on August 14, 2012.

Margaret was born in Concord on April 6, 1923, the daughter of John C. and Beulah Dwyer Umberger. She lived a full life, was active in the community, the state and her family's life. She graduated from Mt. Ulla High School in 1940 and from Greensboro College in 1945. In 1970 she earned a Masters degree from UNC-Greensboro. From 1945-1948, she taught Home Economics at Durham High School. In 1948, she went to work for the Home Extension Division of NC State College, leaving in 1953 as the Home Extension Agent for Durham County.

She had many interests in the community including her church, the environment and making everyone she met feel like a friend. She was a member of her local garden club as well as the state garden club. Margaret was a member of the local and state Home Economics Association for over 50 years and served on the Day Care Services Association Board in Chapel Hill. She was active in the local League of Women Voters (LWV), as well as serving on the State Board of the LWV. As Natural Resources Chair of LWV, she actively pushed for state legislation on environmental issues such as water quality, protecting groundwater, the banning of phosphates and the regulation of pesticides. Margaret was a member of Duke Memorial Methodist Church in Durham where she met and married Samuel M. Holton in 1952. They moved to University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill in 1970 where she enjoyed serving on the Missions committee, as well as participating in the United Methodist Women, and singing in the choir at both churches. Education was important to Margaret, and during her 50th reunion at Greensboro College, she established the Margaret Umberger Holton Scholarship to benefit older students.

She is survived by one brother, John Umberger Jr. and his wife, Mildred, of Kingsport, Tenn.; her four children, Robert Holton and wife, Beverly, of Boone; Margaret (Meg) Holton and husband, Jerrel Kesling, of Chapel Hill; Grace Holton of Durham; and Elizabeth (Betsy) Carmichael and husband, John, of Hillsborough; and six grandchildren, Lori and Kelly Holton of Boone, Alexander Kesling of Chapel Hill, and Jack, Robert and Andrew Carmichael of Hillsborough; and a close cousin, Roxie Harmon of Statesville. She was predeceased by her husband Samuel in 2010, her parents and two brothers, C. Dwyer Umberger and Walter Umberger. Additionally, five nephews, one niece and many cousins survive her.

Special thanks are given to her primary caregiver, Isabel Ventura and her family, Agustin Perez, Elizabeth and Ricardo, for being with Margaret, Sam, and our family for the last eight years. Thank you to the caregivers at Carolina Meadows Healthcare Center and Carolina Healthcare Network.

A memorial service was held 3 p.m. Monday, August 20, 2012, in the Carolina Meadows Retirement Community Auditorium, 100 Carolina Meadows (off Whippoorwill Ln), Chapel Hill, NC.

The family received friends and family 3 p.m.t o 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 19, 2012, at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, 1113 W. Main St., Durham, N.C. A private family burial service was held.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Margaret Umberger Holton Scholarship fund at Greensboro College, Attn: Office of Institutional Advancement, 815 West Market Street, Greensboro, N.C. 27401, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements for the Holton family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Services.

Online condolences: http://www.hallwynne.com, select obituaries.