Margaret E. Van Ummersen, cherished wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at the age of 83.

Margaret was born in Motherwell, Scotland on August 3, 1937 to Edward and Betsy Gilchrist (Williamson). Margaret treasured her relationships with her cousins, who made sure she never felt like an only child. She dreamed of being a teacher when she was five years old. She attended the University of Glasgow to study languages and realized her lifelong goal of becoming an educator. Margaret then married Kenneth McFarlane, with whom she immigrated to the United States and had two children, Alastair (Sonja) and Linda (Kim). Margaret later completed a Master’s Degree in the Psychology of Reading at Temple University, after which she began a long career at Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, where she taught Latin, reading, Italian, and French and chaperoned middle school students on trips to Rome. Her colleagues and students were precious to her. Margaret was a consummate teacher and continued to promote appreciation of art, literature, and history into her retirement.

At the age of 50, Margaret met Luther Van Ummersen and they were married and spent the next 32 years loving each other, traveling, dancing, and going to the theater. Through marrying Luther, Margaret gained three children: Betsy (Craig), Stephen, and Margo. Margaret is also leaving behind five grandchildren – Emily, Jordan, Robert, Daniel, and Hazel – who brought her joy and of whom she was very proud. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother, unconditionally loving and protective. Margaret was an avid basketball fan (particularly of the AFS team under Coach Chadwin), bridge player, camper, naturalist, and hiker and a long-time Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, touching so many lives.