Margaret Bell Benge

Margaret was born on the 9th of December 1929, in Little Rock, Arkansas, the only child of Frank Park Bell and Marguerite Shackelford Bell. She grew up in Forrest City, a small town in northwest Arkansas.

Margaret attended Stephens College as a freshman and then transferred and graduated from the University of Arkansas where she belonged to several honor societies and the Chi Omega sorority. Upon graduating, she was employed as a sales representative at Foley’s in Houston. Soon she was promoted to the coveted position of buyer. Her new role took this small-town girl to New York City where she was enchanted by fine restaurants, Broadway shows, and the hustle and bustle of the Seventh Avenue Fashion District.

Margaret married Houston oil executive Chester Benge at First United Methodist Church in Forrest City. They welcomed the birth of their only child, Marguerite “Marte” Bell Benge in 1961.

Margaret and Chester were active supporters of the Houston community. They belonged to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church where she volunteered with VBS, taught Sunday school to children, and served on the board of the St. Luke’s Day School. She actively volunteered at Marte’s schools and bravely led a few Camp Fire Girl campouts.

Margaret remained active and made lifelong friendships in the Chi Omega Alumnae group. Later in life, she joined the Blue Bird Circle benefitting the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for neurological research. She also belonged to investment and bridge clubs.

As her husband’s involvement with the University of Houston grew, Margaret became a die-hard Cougars fan and even followed the school’s illustrious Phi Slama Jama basketball team on its Final Four road trips in the 1980’s. This passion for sports also led her to become a passionate fan of the Houston Rockets and Houston Texans.

Margaret continued to attend Sunday services at St. Luke’s until she was no longer able to get there. After that she spent Sunday mornings watching various churches in Houston conduct their services on TV. She enjoyed it.

Margaret joins in heaven her parents and her husband of 59 years. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Marte and Geoff Griffith; and their two children, Emily and William. Margaret’s hands-down favorite role in life was that of being a grandmother.

The family wishes to thank Pulse Staffing/Uptown Homecare for the excellent, compassionate caregivers provided to Margaret and Chester.

Earlier this week the family gathered for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, her family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her memory be directed to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Foundation, P.O. Box 22013, Houston, TX, 77227.

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Margaret will always be remembered for her love of family.