Margaret Smith Bourland

1927 - 2015

Margaret (Peg) Smith Bourland, 87, of Walkersville, died peacefully at her home on Monday, December 7, 2015.
Born December 19, 1927 in Frederick, she was the daughter of William G. and Lula Ballinger Smith.
She is survived by her devoted husband of sixty-four years, Orley R. Bourland, Jr.; brother G. Donald Smith and sister-in-law Dolores (Dolly); daughters Margaret Annette B. Huizenga (Timothy) and Andrea Bourland Rinne (Jamieson Johnson); sons O. Ray Bourland III (Mary), J. Daniel Bourland (Elizabeth), and James William Bourland; grandchildren Benjamin E. Huizenga (Seana), Margaret H. Jedrey (Richard), Rebekah B. Maymani (Hossein), John A. Bourland, Peter D. Bourland (Sarah), Andrew W. Rinne, Nicholas L. Rinne (Sara), Matthew P. Rinne, and Joel D. Bourland; great-grandchildren Piper, Toby, and Sadie Huizenga, Richard and Margaret Jedrey, Norah Maymani, and Eva Rinne; much-loved nieces and nephews, and their children. She was preceded in death by her sister Wilma S. (Billie) and brother-in-law Alfred S. Vail.
Peg graduated Frederick High School in 1945, obtained an A.B. in early childhood education in 1949 and an M.A. in education in 1977, both from Hood College. She taught at Damascus Elementary School from 1949 to 1951. As a pre-school and kindergarten teacher, she taught two generations of children in the Walkersville area, first from 1965 to 1971 at the Walkersville Community Play Center with Elizabeth (Betty) Hooper, where she eventually became co-director, and then at Walkersville Elementary School from 1971 to 1983. During that time, she encouraged and mentored many student teachers from Hood College. She was lovingly known throughout the community as "Miss Peg."
Her long list of volunteer activities include: kindergarten volunteer at Walkersville Elementary; volunteer and one-time president of the Walkersville Library Board; kitchen committee chair for the Walkersville United Methodist Church's Fall Bazaar; many roles in the Brownies and Girl Scouts in the 1960's and 1970's; and co-founder, supervisor and committee member of the Weekday Education Program of the Walkersville United Methodist Church. Perhaps most dear to her heart was her work at the Walkersville Food Bank as co-founder and manager.
Mrs. Bourland was named Food Bank Manager of the Year for 1998-1999 by the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs, and won a Maryland Department of Education Outstanding Volunteer Service award in 1987. She was named a 2008 Wertheimer Fellow for Outstanding Volunteerism by the Community Foundation of Frederick County. She cherished her family's receipt of the Family of the Year Award in 1965 from the Maryland PTA. Most of all, she liked helping those in need.
For over sixty-four years, Peg and Orley had a remarkable marriage during which they committed themselves to raising children, serving in their church, and making community wherever they went. Along with Orley, Peg enjoyed her family's many graduations, performances, weddings, and reunions. Together they explored national parks, took up bird-watching, and savored their visits to Chincoteague, Virginia. She expressed her creativity by knitting and sewing for her family and community, and by designing colorful stained glass windows and ornaments. Excelling at bridge, she delighted in her friends and church. Miss Peg will be remembered for her kind and gentle spirit.
Her family is very grateful to friends, neighbors, support groups, caregivers, doctors and other medical staff who brought such good gifts and compassionate care to her journey these last months of her life.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Tuesday, December 15 at 11:00 a.m., Walkersville United Methodist Church; visiting with the family starting at 9:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
• Walkersville United Methodist Church, 22 Main St, Walkersville, MD 21793, memo line: "Weekday School";
• Glade Valley Community Services, P.O. Box 655, Walkersville, MD, 21793, memo line: "Food Bank";
• or The Community Foundation of Frederick County, 312 E. Church St., Frederick, MD, 21701, memo line: "Peg and Orley Bourland Educational Assistance Fund for Glade Valley" (or at www.FrederickCountyGives.org/Bourland).