Margaret Dabback Funk

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Margaret Dabback Funk, a lifelong resident of Kimberton and Phoenixville, died August 30, 2012 at the age of 95.
Born on July 20, 1917, she was the daughter of Methodist minister David George Dabback and Ruth Hendrickson Dabback, who died in 1919 in Philadelphia's influenza outbreak when Mrs. Funk was just two years old. Rev. Dabback went on to marry Ruth Hawes, who lovingly raised Mrs. Funk and her two older sisters, Alice (Coates) and Emily (Gable), as well as the three children she and Rev. Dabback went on to have: David, formerly of Malvern; DeWitt of Royersford; and Ruth Ann, of Phoenixville.
Mrs. Funk attended grade school in West Chester, moved to Phoenixville during junior high school, and graduated from Phoenixville High School's Class of 1935, for which she served as Class Vice President. The late Robert E. Funk, whom she married three years later on Thanksgiving Day, was Class President.
An executive with Superior Tube Co. of Collegeville, Mr. Funk was sent to Los Angeles during World War II to launch Superior's Los Angeles unit. Though Mr. Funk was offered a leadership post in California, Mrs. Funk, after visiting the city with her two young sons, felt strongly that the family's place was back in Pennsylvania. No shrinking violet, she voiced her opinion with her husband and his supervisors, who relented and offered Mr. Funk a position back home. And so the young family returned to the Phoenixville area, where Mr. Funk worked for Superior's Collegeville facility until his retirement in 1983.
"We could have easily ended up living in Los Angeles," said John D. Funk, who is Mrs. Funk's oldest son. "It is such a blessing to have lived one place your whole life and to have a huge, close family all around you. This is largely due to mom's influence and guidance."
Mrs. Funk is survived by her five children and their spouses: John Funk and Elaine FitzSimons of East Vincent Township; Richard L. Funk and Donna Dougherty of Chester Springs; Margaret Jane (Funk) and Walter Turpin of Phoenixville; Robert Edwin and Sandra Davis Funk of Malvern, and Elizabeth Anne (Funk) and Jean-Pierre Bouvel of Chester Springs. In addition to her sister Ruth and brother DeWitt, Mrs. Funk is survived by 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
She was the proud and loving matriarch of this close family, holding court at family gatherings and playing Christmas carols on the piano while her brood sang as recently as last year. She most loved tending and nurturing her family and her church, serving as an active member of the East Vincent United Church of Christ for 73 years where she taught Sunday school, led fundraisers and sang in the choir. She loved flower gardening and always has something blooming in her home as well.
A voracious reader, Mrs. Funk also enjoyed traveling near and far, from Sunday afternoon drives through the Lancaster countryside to an epic trip to the Holy Lands of Jerusalem with her husband in the 1980s. In recent years, she took several driving trips across the United States with her son Ed and his wife Sandi, including one just last year.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at the East Vincent United Church of Christ, 282 Hill Church Road, Spring City, PA 19475 on Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 11:00 AM. Officiating will be the Rev. Kate Davidheiser. Burial will be in the Church Cemetery. The family will greet friends following the committal service at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in her name to the East Vincent United Church of Christ at the above address.
Condolences may be made and the video tribute may be viewed by visiting www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com. The Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., Main Street at Fifth Avenue, Phoenixville, PA is in charge of the arrangements.
Published in The Mercury from September 2 to September 3, 2012
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