Margaret L. Wallin

Margaret L. Wallin, 96, passed on Sunday, June 17, 2012. Mrs. Wallin was born and raised in the Swedish section of Chicago, IL, but, while moving frequently because of her husband's job, spent the majority of her adult life in Pittsburgh, PA. In her youth she attended the first All Star Baseball game ever played and saw Babe Ruth among other Hall of Famers.

While in Pittsburgh, she was very active in a variety of church and civic activities. At Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church she was both a Deacon and Trustee, chairperson of the search committee for professional staff, President of the Baptist Women's association, and president of the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Home Auxiliary. She also served several terms as president of the Mt. Lebanon Women's Club. As a second grade Sunday School teacher, she tried to teach Bill Cower, who became the Super Bowl winning coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. She remembered him as "overly active."

In 1979, she and husband, Roy spent a month in Sweden experiencing their roots. They met a variety of relatives including an aunt and a range of cousins. She was very proud of her Swedish heritage and specialized in a variety of Swedish dishes. She also won first place in a Christmas cookie contest sponsored by the Pittsburgh Press for her Swedish Pepparkakor cookies.

She moved to Kingsport in 2006 following the death of her husband in 2004. Margaret was a very happy resident of Baysmont where she made a wide range of friends, played bridge, and joined the First Broad Street United Methodist Church. At the church she was an active in the women's circle, United Methodist Women, and the Crusaders Sunday School Class.

Margaret Wallin was a woman of grit, spirit, intelligence and warmth. She will remain an inspiration to all those who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Roy, daughter, Ruth Ann and parents, Daisy Margaret Larson and Samuel Alfred Lundquist.

Margaret is survived by her son, Fred Wallin and his wife, Dorothy; daughter, Karen Shoenberger and husband, Robert of Pittsburgh, PA; six grandchildren, Margaret Wallin-Hart and husband, Jeb of Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Julia Culligan and husband, Michael of Kingsport, TN, Melissa Henderson and husband, Troy of Johnstown, PA, Christine Matchett and husband, Cory of McDonald, PA, Jordan Shoenberger and wife, Candace of Pittsburgh, PA, and David Shoenberger of Hampton, VA. She also enjoyed seven great-grandchildren to whom she was affectionately known as "Mormor" or "mother's mother" in Swedish.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 20th at 10:30am at First Broad Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Jack P. Weikel officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, she asked that you consider a donation to First Broad Street United Methodist Church, 100 E. Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660.