Margarita Chapa Medellin

She grew up in the Magnolia Park area of Houston’s East End, and during World War II, she attended both Massey Business College, where she learned about secretarial work, and Taylor Vocational School, where she trained as a machine tool operator, learning how to operate such things as a torque lathe, radial drill and drill press.

Like all good citizens, Margarita served her country during WWII—she worked in a munitions plant in Houston, making detonators for aerial bombs. The irony of that was that as she worked to help bring German and Japanese racism to an end, she herself was forced to ride in the back of the bus to and from work, because she was Hispanic. But she quietly and dutifully served her country anyway. She was one of only three Hispanics at the plant, and the only Hispanic woman working there—quite an accomplishment in those days. (And she said that she enjoyed her work as a machinist so much more than secretarial work!)

In 1948, she married Joe Gilbert Medellin, a marriage which lasted 57 years, until Joe’s death in 2006. Margarita and Joe began their lives together in Pasadena, Texas, but following the births of their two daughters, Consuelo and Hope, they moved to Houston.

Margarita worked as a full-time homemaker, taking care of her children and participating in their many activities. During those busy years, she served as a water-safety instructor for the Houston Red Cross during the girls’ swim lessons, and an Assistant Troop Leader in their Girl Scout troop. She made countless trips to tap and ballet lessons, twirling lessons, and skating lessons, skillfully sewing all accompanying costumes for the recitals, and faithfully attending them all. Margarita spent many years investing her life in her family, and wanted to be remembered most for these years.

After her daughters were grown, Margarita enjoyed some leisure time by doing something else she loved: she joined a women’s bowling league. Her team, “Santa’s Helpers,” placed second in their division, losing only to the top men’s team. She said that she bowled a few strikes during that memorable championship game.

In 1974, Margarita accepted God’s gift of everlasting life and gave her heart to Jesus, knowing she would spend eternity in heaven with her Savior.

Although a lifelong Houstonian, Margarita spent the last 11 years in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, living with her daughter Hope’s family. She is survived by daughter Connie Medellin Zapien of Houston, Texas, daughter Hope Medellin Garcia and her husband, Reinaldo Garcia, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, as well as one brother, Antonio Chapa and his wife, Felipa Chapa, of Houston, Texas, nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Services will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale, with visitation on May 12, 2017 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, and a memorial service on May 13, 2017 at 2:00 pm.