Margaret Atkin

MARGARET JANET (CLARK) ATKIN
Margaret Atkin's former students at Iroquois High School will recall her loaning a pencil to the unprepared, for a price. a security deposit of the student's left shoe. With each walk back to the desk, Margaret slyly taught her students about being prepared for class while pragmatically guarding her limited classroom supplies. Friends and family who knew her best will profoundly miss her playful wit, sage advice, tough love and tender heart.
Margaret passed away peacefully in her sleep at Forestview Skilled Nursing Center, Erie on November 15th, 2024; two months short of her 99th birthday. She was born on January15th, 1926, in Lawrence Park Township and as a life-long resident had been a fixture in the community.
She graduated from Indiana University Pennsylvania and began teaching in Girard before marrying Ralph Atkin of Tidioute PA. Together they had three sons and two daughters who each attended Iroquois High School. Much to Margaret's delight, each furthered their educations after high school.
Margaret initially left teaching in the classroom to raise her family. In the late 1960's she resumed her teaching career as a Home Economics teacher at Iroquois High School, retiring in1988 from full time teaching after mentoring many students and making many lifelong friendships with staff at the school. She made many more friendships with her interests outside the classroom.
After her official retirement, Margaret and Ralph spent winters in Deltona, Florida for many years. She was always interested in local happenings, always up for new experiences, restaurants to try and shops to visit. She also occasionally worked as a substitute teaching there.
Margaret was an enthusiastic antique shopper and she and Ralph ran an informal flea market for years, from their German HIllcamp in Tionesta, PA.
A skilled artisan in hooking rugs, she was active in rug-hooking groups in Pennsylvania and Florida. She taught many classes and special workshops. Mischievously, she was known as "the old-fashioned hooker" opting to do everything from scratch. She cut her own strips, dyed her wool and made her own patterns.
Margaret attended the Lawrence Park United Methodist Church and was involved in the Lawrence Park Historical Society. Margaret was also an avid gardener and yearly bottled her own county fair ribbon winning wines with help from friends and several generations of her family.
Margaret maintained her sharp wit and memory until she passed. She loved playing Bingo at Forestview and won often. She was always ready with questions for family and friends about neighbors, grandkids and pets. Weeks before her death, on a drive to see fall foliage, she insisted on ending with a trip to the mall, where she picked out a few new outfits and some comfy pajamas. She ended with a stop for an ice cream sundae.
Margaret is preceded in death by her parents Kenneth and Cora Clark of Lawrence Park, her husband Ralph N. Atkin, originally of Tidioute and extended family members of the Acks, Atkin, Carll, Flasher, Kincaid, Yeager and Young families.
She is also preceded in death by her two daughters Jean Gool and Janet Rapp, both of Erie and survived by her three sons John C. Atkin (wife Bruce Parkhurst) of Tionesta, PA; James K. Atkin (wife Sharon Atkin), of Hernando, FL; and Jeffrey R. Atkin (wife Gina Atkin) of Inverness, FL.
Proud grandmother of five: Justin F. Wolfe (wife Pam Ansman-Wolfe) of Renton, WA; Jeremy J. Gool of Erie, PA; Jacob A. Gool (wife Joanna Gool) of West Chester, PA; Jason P. Atkin (wife Cassandra Atkin) of Waterford PA; and Elizabeth J. Atkin (husband Adam C. Clark) of Pittsburgh, PA.
Also survived by seven great grandchildren MacKenzie N. Sharpless (husband Sam Sharpless), Maximilian R. Wolfe, Spencer P. Wolfe, Jaden J. Atkin, Jera M. Atkin, Penelope V. Gool and Coraline G. Gool as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may call on Thursday, December 5th, at the Kloecker-Bailey Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 4396 Iroquois Ave., Erie, PA 16511 from 11am until the time of the service at 12pm. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery. Send condolences to www.kloeckerfuneralhome.com.
An avid reader, Margaret asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to the Erie County Library - Lawrence Park Branch, 4212 Iroquois Ave, Erie PA 16511. Alternately, donations are welcomed to the Janet Rapp Scholarship Fund, Iroquois School District Foundation, 800 Tyndall Ave., Erie PA 16511.