Margaret Messina

Margaret Jane Patton Messina, 88 of Mesquite, Texas, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008. She was born Jan. 7, 1920, in Morganton, the third of eight children, to Robert L. and Bessie Hallyburton Patton. Margaret graduated from Appalachian State University and worked as a teacher for the federal government in Washington, D.C. She met John Messina, a soldier in the U.S. Army waiting to go to the Pacific in World War II. They married on Feb. 3, 1943, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Margaret moved to Dallas, Texas, to await the end of the war. She worked alongside John in his photography business and raised a family of three children. Margaret is survived by her sons, John Messina and his wife, Kathryn, and Robert Messina and his wife, Darlene; a daughter, Melanie Golder and her husband, Bill; sisters, Martha Waters, Billie Harvey and Virginia Wagner; grandchildren, John Armao, Cara Armao Nino, Sam, Nick, Todd and Troy Messina and Will and Lindsay Golder; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years; her parents; and six brothers and sisters. Funeral services were held on Oct. 30, 2008, at Sacred Heart Mausoleum Chapel, 3900 Rowlett Road, Rowlett, Texas, with the Rev. Monsignor Robert M. Coerver officiating.