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Margaret Sylvester, 97, the widow of the late Rev. Willard Sylvester, died Dec. 3, 2010, in Edgewater, Fla. For the past five years she had lived in a nursing home. A funeral was held in Edgewater Dec. 5.

Margaret Katherine Saunders was born Oct. 4, 1913, in Orange, Va., to Elhanon Vernon Saunders and Irene Johnson Saunders. She graduated from high school in Wilmington, Del., and attended Western Maryland College. She married her childhood sweetheart, Willard Sylvester, in 1934. They had two children.

Shortly after their marriage, he began his ministerial career which she supported in every way. As was the custom, they lived in the parsonages provided and never owned their own home during his ministerial career.

His ministerial path took them to ten different circuits and churches that included many more congregations from 1936 until he retired 40 years later in 1976. These included Carroll Circuit in Sykesville and West Baltimore M.P. Church in 1935-36; the Catoctin Furnace Circuit from 1936-1939; Warforsburg Circuit in Pennsylvania in 1940; St. Mary’s Circuit in Pearson, now Lexington Park Navy Base in 1941; Brentwood from 1942-1948; Lauraville, 1949-1950; Wilton Heights, 1951-1958; Starr, 1959-1965, North Avenue, 1966-1968; and his longest appointment, to Memorial UMC, from 1969 until his retirement in 1976.

After he retired, they moved to Daytona Beach, Fla., and he served as an associate minister at Community UMC for another seven years.

Margaret Sylvester was a homemaker all her life. She never learned to drive, but enjoyed travel by car with her daughter doing the driving. She also loved playing cards.

She was predeceased by her son, Willard Walls Sylvester Jr., in 2003.

Survivors include her daughter, Margaret Smith of Edgewater, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Condolences may be sent to Margaret Smith, 2222 Willow Oak Drive, Edgewater, FL 32141.