Margaret M. Stratton

Margaret Mary Stratton, 95, of Dennison, passed away on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at Community Hospice House in New Philadelphia following a brief illness. Born October 3, 1917 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, she was a daughter of the late Edward and Maude (Andrews) Coggins.

Marge grew up in Bellaire where she attended and was a graduate of St. John’s High School before earning her nursing degree from the Ohio Valley Nursing School in Wheeling. She was active in nursing throughout her adult life, locally having been employed by Twin City Hospital in Dennison from 1948 to 1973 as a nurse, director of nursing and acting administrator over the years. While living in Florida from 1973 to 1983, she was the director of nursing for a residential healthcare center for nearly ten years. In retirement, she enjoyed serving as the secretary for the Twin City chapter of A.A.R.P. and volunteering at the Twin City Christian Service Center. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and loved spending time with her many friends with whom she played cards and mahjong. She was a former member and past president of the Twin City Business and Professional Women, as well. A woman of deep faith, she was a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Church and its Altar Society.

On January 23, 1942, Marge married Paul E. Stratton with whom she enjoyed nearly thirty-four years of marriage until his passing on February 13, 1976. They are survived by two sons, Paul E. (Patricia) Stratton, Jr. of Gnadenhutten and D. Kevin (Dodie) Stratton of Murphysboro, Illinois; six grandchildren, Lt. Col. Lance (Missy) Stratton of Freeburg, Illinois, Michael Stratton of Murphysboro, Paul “Tre” (Brooke) Stratton, III of Center, Ohio, Kris (Jen) Stratton of Gnadenhutten, Megan (Frank) Drews of Athens, Ohio, and Nate Stratton of Elk Grove Village, Illinois; and eleven great-grandchildren, Sierra, David, Gabe, Luke, Gracie, Abby, Owen, Emma, Ryah, Tawney and Trevor. Marge is also survived by two sisters, Jean Jericho of Shadyside, Ohio and Mary Barrett of Dennison; two sisters-in-law, Sophie Coggins of Shadyside and Rose Coggins of Hayward, California; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and a host of friends, including dear friends, Anne Mears of Dennison and Bev Holmes-Sloan of North Carolina who was almost like a daughter to her. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Frank and Edward Coggins.

Services for Marge, officiated by Father Anthony Lonzo, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 22, in Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison. Interment will follow beside her beloved husband in St. Mary’s Cemetery near Dennison. Family and friends are invited to call at the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home in Dennison from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Hospital Twin City, 819 N. 1st St., Dennison, OH 44621 and Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663.