Margaret Ullman

1925 - 2018

Margaret Ullman
July 9, 1925 - Dec. 18, 2018
Resident of Palo Alto
After a long illness, Margaret Catherine Ullman (née Rice) passed away at home at the age of 93, on December 18, 2018, surrounded by family and friends.
Margaret was born at home in Utica, NY, at midnight between July 8 and 9, 1925, to Margaret Elizabeth Rice (née Hagen) and George Edmund Rice, Jr. July 8 was the 25th wedding anniversary of her grandparents.
At the age of 18 Margaret joined the United States Navy as a member of the WAVES. She was stationed on Treasure Island in California's San Francisco Bay.
Upon completing her naval tour of duty, Margaret returned to the east coast and eventually made her way to Davis and Elkins College, in Elkins, West Virginia, where she studied psychology. There, she met her future husband, Peter John Ullman. Margaret left school full-time to provide for the couple while Peter completed his education. Peter graduated from D & E in 1949 with a degree in engineering.
In 1957 the couple moved to California, where Peter found employment in the fledgling electronics industry. Margaret worked as an executive secretary for 15 years, before permanently leaving the workforce, just weeks before giving birth to her son Marc. Margaret and Peter bought a house in Palo Alto in 1958, where the couple lived together until her death.
Margaret's passions were volunteering, gardening, and reading. For most of her adult life, she participated in various recreational dance classes, where she enjoyed the physical activity as well as the camaraderie of her fellow dance students.
Margaret was preceded in death by her mother, father, brother George Edmund Rice, III, grandparents, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. At the time of her passing, Margaret was the oldest living relative in her family.
Margaret is survived by her husband Peter, children Marc (Nadia) and Sharon (Joe), and eight grandchildren: Emily, Kevin, Kelly, Michael, Melody, Angelina, George, and Katherine.
A service honoring Margaret's life will be held on Monday, December 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Alta Mesa Funeral Home in Palo Alto.
In Margaret's honor, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Williams Syndrome Association, 570 Kirts Blvd. Suite 223. Troy, MI, 48084-4153. Williams syndrome is a genetic anomaly effecting only about one in ten thousand people that spontaneously occurred in Margaret's granddaughter, Angelina.


View the online memorial for Margaret Ullman