Margaret Wimp

Margaret Ann (Smith) Wimp ObituaryMargaret Wimp went to Heaven to join her husband Vern at the age of 88. They are singing country music duets with the angels.Margaret was born Margaret Ann Smith on December 22, 1934 in Milford, Nebraska. She was the first child of Archie and Bethel Smith. At 8 years old her family moved to Portland, Oregon to work at the shipyards during World War II. When the war ended the Smith’s moved to Scottsburg, Oregon, 20 miles from Reedsport. Her parents managed a housing project for loggers and post-war government employment projects. They also ran the only café in the area and Margarethad to work there part-time. She graduated from Reedsport High School in 1952. She was a cheerleader, played sports and worked at the movie theater. During her senior year she was selected to serve as one of the Douglas County Centennial Celebration Princesses and rode in the parade in Roseburg.After graduation, the Smith family decided to move back to Milford, NE. In April of 1953,Margaret met her future husband Vern. He proposed to her in August while she was in the hospital after having her appendix removed. They were married October 17, 1953. In 1954, they were joined by their first child, Lynn. Margaret worked at an insurance agency affiliated with State Farm. In 1957 she had an opportunity to take a job at a newregional State Farm office that was opening in Salem, Oregon. Her parents had moved back to Oregon. They settled in Salem, bought a house, and Margaret had their second child Terry in 1959. A third child, Steven was born in 1961 but died of complications. Margaret’s fourth child, Joyce, was born in 1962. Her last child, Troy was born in 1974.Margaret loved to play softball with a Salem City Women’s league after work. She also made all sorts of arts and crafts and hosted Tupperware parties. After her children were born, Margaret chose to work part-time for the State of Oregon as a keypunch operator so she could be home during the day. Later she went to work full-time for the Employment Division of the State. Margaret moved with her family to Hawaii for a year in 1970. She had such dark hair and a dark tan that many people thought she was a “local”. After returning to Oregon, Margaret continued her career and retired from State employment. When Vern retired a few years later the two of them sold their home and lived out of their RV full-time. They spent 6 months in Arizona and 6 months in Oregon and traveling to other states. They drove their RV with a group of friends all the way to Alaska and back.