On September 4, 2014, Margaret McGavock Woodward was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior.
Margaret was born in Louisville, Kentucky on February 11, 1922 to James W. and Catherine (Johnson) McGavock. At just seven months, Margaret embarked on a journey as she traveled with her parents to Santiago, Chile as they worked in the mission field. She would continue to live in Santiago, attending school and caring for others until she graduated from high school.
In 1940 at age 18, Margaret came back to the U.S. to attend college at Carson-Newman College, and then earned her Master's Degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1949. Because she was fluent in both Spanish and English, she had many opportunities. During college she taught Spanish to U.S. Navy V-12 students and then also did graduate work at Baylor University. Eventually, Margaret joined her parents in El Paso, Texas at the Spanish Baptist Publishing House where she was an editor and translator for Christian literature for all of Spanish Latin America. Margaret went on to teach Spanish and English at Crockett Elementary for over 20 years, retiring in 1986. After retirement Margaret spent time with her family and continued to live independently until she was 90. In August of 2012, she joined her daughter in Traverse City, Michigan.
On September 9, 1944, Margaret married Samuel Woodward. Together they had to two children Sharon and Theron Woodward.
Margaret is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Joe) Williams of Traverse City, MI; her son, Theron (Maria) Woodward of Knoxville, TN; her daughter-in-law, Carol (John) White of Las Cruces, NM, a special niece, Myshie (Ken) Pagel of El Paso, TX, and two nephews, Randall McGavock of Texas, and James A. McGavock of Washington. Margaret is also survived by her grandchildren, Catherine (James) Williams; Jennifer (Craig) Jones; Amanda (Ben) Adams; and Sarah (Ulysses) Lennon, all of Traverse City, MI and Jena Woodward of Las Cruces, NM and Kristen Woodward of Los Angeles, CA, as well as 13 great grandchildren. She also leaves behind many great-nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, brother, James N. McGavock, sister-in-law Moyra McGavock and former husband Samuel Woodward.
Cremation has already taken place. There will be a graveside service celebrating Margaret's life at Restlawn Memorial Cemetery, 4848 Alps Drive, El Paso, TX 79904, on October 17, 2014 at 2:00 pm.