Margaret Markley Ridgway, 79 of Wheaton was born on June 21, 1926 in Chiles, Kansas. She passed away peacefully on May 17th.

The daughter of Edith Isabelle Nelson and Thomas Jefferson Markley, she was a member of the National Honor Society in High School, and was awarded a Westinghouse scholarship in 1945. She worked her way through college in a variety of jobs and graduated from the University of Omaha in 1948. She never forgot the roots of her family and her devotion to them never waned.

She taught science and worked in the nuclear energy field before raising five daughters with Ken, in a happy, healthy home. She shared her qualities of intelligence, humor, persistence, loyalty and loving devotion with her husband, five daughters and two grandchildren.

She was active in her church and PEO; an avid and shrewd bridge player and an excellent seamstress. She will be remembered for her sweetness, grace and never ending kindness to all she met.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Kenneth Ridgway; daughters Janet Elaine (John), Barbara Lynn, Gwendolyn Ridgway Johnson (Dave), Carolyn Marie; grandchildren Alex and Abby Johnson and sister Mary Fuller.

She was preceded in death by her sisters Virginia Cook, Evelyn Schaefer and daughter Linda Diane Peale Ridgway.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May, 27th at 3:00 p.m. with a visitation for family and friends at 2:00 p.m. Both will be at St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 1420 S. Gables in Wheaton. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to St. Matthew U.C.C.