Margie L. Harrington

Margie L. Harrington, age 100, of Newton passed away peacefully at her home on April 25, 2023 with her son and daughter at her side. She was the beloved wife of the late Philip N. Harrington of Newton for 60 years and a loving and devoted mother to their children, Donald N. and Susan A. Harrington, also of Newton. She was a cherished aunt to numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

Born in McArthur, county seat of Vinton County, Ohio, to Archibald and Ida M. (Rittenhouse) Oiler in 1922, Margie was the sixth of nine siblings. Valedictorian of her class at McArthur High School, she went on to attend business college in Columbus, Ohio, where she worked until her marriage. She met her husband, who was working in Columbus, through a mutual friend. He was a native of Newton, Massachusetts, where they married in 1949 and raised their son and daughter. Early in married life, Margie worked as secretary to the principal of Underwood Elementary School in Newton, before becoming a full-time mother and homemaker.

Margie was predeceased by her parents, her husband and her eight dearly loved siblings: brothers Donald H., Loyd G., Rodney A. and William A. Oiler and sisters Edith R. Leary, Hazel J. (Aber) Marcum, Sara E. Prater and Molly M. Starr. She maintained contact with all of her many nieces and nephews throughout her life and never forgot to remember a family member or friend’s birthday or anniversary with a card or call. She especially enjoyed sending a Christmas gift to each niece and nephew when they were young.

A lifelong Methodist, Margie was a Sunday School teacher and active member of various church women’s service groups. She enjoyed oil painting--giving a painting to each of her siblings and her husband’s sister, weekly league bowling with her husband at the Hunnewell Club in Newton, and road trips with her family throughout the United States and Canada—especially to attend family reunions in Ohio. When her children were grown, she and Philip traveled to Japan, Mexico and Europe—the latter being for the 40th Anniversary of D-Day with Philip’s Army Air Corps reunion group.

Margie was a reserved, kind, gentle, patient, caring, generous and selfless person with deep faith and an unfailingly positive attitude. She loved her family, children and helping others, frequently running errands for elderly friends and neighbors. She and Philip also cared for his step mother at their home in her final years.

Margie will be greatly missed by her children and extended family and fondly remembered by all whose lives she touched.

A visitation will be held on Friday, May 5th at the United Methodist Church of Newton, 430 Walnut St., Newtonville starting at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM and interment in Newton Cemetery. Light refreshments will follow at the church, in Fellowship Hall. Relatives and friends are kindly invited.

Donations in Margie’s memory may be made to Good Shepard Community Care, 160 Wells Ave., Newton, MA 02459, to the United Methodist Church of Newton, 430 Walnut St., Newtonville, MA 02460 or to a charity of your choice.

If you order flowers for the service please have them delivered to the funeral home on Thursday.

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