Margaret Helen Combest Barnhill, born August 15, 1915, died March 26, 2014, at home in Houston, Texas. Margaret was born in Denton, Texas, to Frances and Alva Combest. She was loved by many and loved to entertain her friends. She was always thinking of ways to have friends over. She loved working in her yard and visiting with friends. She was a very caring and thoughtful person. Margaret graduated from Texas Christian University in 1935, at age 19, earning high honors majoring in French and Spanish and receiving an elementary and high school certification for Texas schools. She attended Southern Methodist University, working on a Masters of Education. She taught school at Highland Park in Dallas and retired from S.C. Red Elementary in Houston after teaching third grade for 21 years. As a long-time member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, she was a member of the Dynamics Sunday School Class. She is currently a member of Sugar Land First United Methodist Church. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and the Houston Retired Teachers Association, holding several offices. She was also a member of the Tuesday Musical Club. Margaret enjoyed the Book Club at Braeburn Country Club and the Briar Club Senior Ladies’ Luncheon. She was a patron of the Houston Junior League where she enjoyed attending luncheons and style shows. She volunteered with Senior Adult Services at St. Luke’s and attended the Mainstreamers Thursday luncheons. She also volunteered at the Back-to-School and Christmas Express programs of the St. Luke’s Christian Community Service Center. Family and friends enjoyed many happy times at Margaret and Weldon’s lake house on Lake LBJ through the years. Margaret made many friends at University Place Retirement Community in the 11 years she lived there.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 wonderful years, Weldon W. Barnhill; also by her son Weldon W. Barnhill, Jr; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Dorris and Bud Walker; and son-in-law John Range. She will be dearly missed by her surviving daughters Bette Range of Missouri City and Linda Fryer and husband Jim of Austin; and by her six grandchildren: Bob Edwards and wife Nella, Todd Range and wife Michelle, Scott Burton and wife Brandi, Dr. Amy Burton Smith , Seana Balman and husband Dr. John Balman, and Cathy Range as well as 15 great grandchildren. The family would like to express their deep appreciation to the caregivers at University Place and Temporary Home Care staff, and the Houston Hospice staff with special thanks to Olive Tyler and Rose. A memorial service will be held at University Place, 7480 Beechnut St. on March 28, 2014 at 2:30 pm in the meeting room. The family will receive friends after the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a contribution in her memory, please consider a donation to your favorite charity.
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