Margaret A. Bateman

MARGARET A. BATEMAN
August 25, 1941 to January 29, 2025
Margaret A. Bateman passed away peacefully at home on January 29 at the age of 83, surrounded by her family. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Bateman.
Margaret was born in Chicago, Illinois as the older of two children, her family moved to Southern California in 1947. She graduated from San Gabriel Mission High School in 1959. Margaret attended Cal State LA where she earned a bachelor's degree and teaching credential allowing her to pursue a career as a teacher.
In 1960, Margaret attended a Cal State LA Newman Club party where she met her future husband, Joe Bateman. They married three days after Christmas in 1963, during her Christmas vacation from teaching. The happy couple bought a house in Rosemead where they welcomed their first two daughters, Taryn and Nancy. In 1971, they moved to a bigger home in Arcadia, where they welcomed their third and fourth daughters, Suzanne and Tracy. Margaret and Joe had a full house!
Joe and Margaret were married for 52 years until Joe's passing in 2016.
Margaret's green eyes would instantly light up when she talked about her grandchildren, Alexandra, Kirstie, Dylan, Erin, Joey and Riley. She was a proud mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.
She is survived by her brother, Wally Lohgren (Lynn), her children, Taryn Simone (James), Nancy Hansen (Robert), Suzanne Begich (Bruce) and Tracy McAndrew (Randy), as well as an abundance of nieces and nephews.
"Mrs. Bateman" was the kindergarten teacher you wish you'd had. Her dedication and love of teaching young children ran deep. Before retiring from La Rosa Elementary in Temple City in 2007, she found great joy when her students' eyes lit up when they "got it," as she used to affectionately say. Many of her former students kept in touch with Mrs. Bateman into their adulthood. She very much loved the correspondence.
May memories of her kindness, wit and love of family sustain us!
Margaret's wishes invite attendees to wear bright, colorful attire as a celebration of her life.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, 700 N. Sunnyside, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 (626) 355-7188 https://materdolorosa.org/memorial/