Margaret Schwab

In the early morning of May 19, 2014, Margaret Fiedler Schwab joined her Creator and life-long companion and husband, Richard Schwab, who preceded her in death in 2007. The younger of two sisters, Margaret was born February 19, 1920 in Mansfield, Ohio to Henry and Anna (Finfgeld) Fiedler. This past February, she celebrated her 94th birthday at Wedgewood, surrounded by family and new friends met while living there since 2006.

A life-long resident of Mansfield, Margaret graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in January of 1938. As a young woman, Margaret was fun loving and adventuresome with a wide circle of activities and friends, many of whom remained life-long pals. Photographs from those days show a pretty young woman with a mischievous smile. When she and a few friends started a Bridge Club during high school, little did they know that this would be a source of fun and friendship for over six decades. She was a drummer in the high school band's Drum Corps.

During World War II, Margaret worked at Westinghouse as a secretary; volunteered as a nurse's aide for the USO and recalled handing out sandwiches to soldiers passing through Crestline by train on their way to war. Margaret met her future husband, Richard "Dick" Schwab, at the Mansfield Tribune where they were both employed before the war. After Richard returned from the war, they continued their relationship and were married on April 23, 1949, beginning their 59-year journey of devotion and loyalty through all of life's ups and downs. Some of their favorite times together were the yearly vacations to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they enjoyed walking the beaches, visiting with good friends and family and eating fresh seafood. Margaret loved beachcombing and her home was dotted with beautiful shells collected over a lifetime, a hobby she passed on to her daughter and granddaughter.

Margaret had a strong faith and a rich heritage with St. John's United Church of Christ in Mansfield (formerly St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church). Her family, particularly her father, Henry R. Fielder and great-aunt, Bertha Ruess, played integral roles as faithful and loyal servants of the church. Margaret was baptized, confirmed and married in St. John's church and enjoyed a lifetime of attending services there until just recently.

Margaret considered herself an ordinary person with no extraordinary gifts, but she was a wonderful friend and fiercely loyal to those she loved. The entirety of her life exhibits some of those strong and upright values disappearing from the world with the passing of her generation.

A devoted mother, Margaret is survived by her daughter, Vicki Schwab of Mansfield; granddaughter, Aliah Schweickart Fisher and her husband, Airman Justin Fisher who currently reside on Incirlik AB in Turkey. On Mother's Day, Margaret learned she was to become a great-grandmother; even though she will not be here to experience it, her life and special memories will be treasured and passed on. Margaret is also survived by her thoughtful and caring sister-in-law, Phyllis Schwab of Mansfield; loving nieces, Patty Mengert Womeldorf of Ostrander, Ohio and Annette Mengert Huber of Worthington, Ohio, their husbands, children and grandchildren; "favorite" nephew, Donn Mengert of Port Clinton, Ohio; and cousins, Marcille Bookwalter of Mansfield and Elizabeth Fiedler Estler of Melbourne, Florida.

The family welcomes friends and family from 12-1 p.m. Thursday, May 22, 2014 in the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road followed by a service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will immediately follow in Mansfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Margaret's name to St. John's United Church of Christ.

The family wishes to thank all of those special people who made Margaret's last days on earth more comfortable including: Care Companions; Hospice of North Central Ohio; the staff at Wedgewood; and the Visiting Nurse Association.