Margaret Routon's Obituary
Margaret Routon, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, died July 31, 2018 in Methodist Residence Hospice. She was the eldest of the three daughters of Edward and Linda Lindeen. She attended Drake University until her father was transferred to New York City where she was privileged to attend live performances by the jazz greats of the 1940s. She joined the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) during World War II and served in the 9th Naval District Public Relations Office at the Great Lakes Naval Training School and in the PR office in Detroit, MI. In 1954, she and her husband and two daughters moved to Memphis. For 10 years, she worked as a claims representative for Aetna Casualty and Surety Insurance. She was President of the League of Women Voters and received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 1990 for her work with the Regional Medical Center. Very active in her church, Marge was an ardent supporter of Civil Rights and Women’s Rights. She also taught literacy to MLGW workers. She was a founding member of Neshoba Unitarian-Universalist Church. She loved live theatre, dance, the symphony, opera, jazz, and traveling with the love of her life, the late Richard Routon. Reading was her passion until she lost most of her sight to macular degeneration. She is survived by two daughters, Linda Raiteri of Memphis and Beverly Sherriff Love (Dane) of Fishers, IN; three step-daughters, Gretchen Graham (Peter) of Kennebunkport, ME; Elise Lewis (Ed) of Chattanooga, TN; and Dixie Thompson (Billy) of Fredricksburg, VA, two grandchildren, nine step-grandchildren, seven step-great-grandchildren, eight nieces and nephews, and a myriad of friends. A Memorial Service will be held at Neshoba Unitarian-Universalist Church in Cordova in November. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Neshoba Unitarian-Universalist Church, 7350 Raleigh Lagrange Rd, Cordova, TN 38018, or the charity of the donor’s choice.
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