Margaret Palafox

PALAFOX
Margaret I. Palafox born on March 14, 1914 went to be with the Lord, her beloved mother, Petra and daughter, Rachel on July 10, 2013 at a spry and energetic age of 99!
She was one of five women pioneers, aka Kelly Katies (Kelly AFB version of Rosie the Riveter) who worked doing traditional men's jobs at Kelly Field at the very beginning of WWII. She was a sheet metal mechanic for T33 trainers, B17, B24 and B52 bombers for over 20 years. Margaret prided herself in the ability to accurately cut sheet metal and rivet the plane's body parts to their specifications. An oft repeated quote from her was, "I knew our airmen depended on my doing accurate work- I did not want them to have any mishaps because of our work.. They (bosses) assigned the women the wing jobs because our hands were small enough to rivet those tight spaces." She also sang in the Kelly Field Choir in the 60's. She received certificates and awarded the "Zero Defects" medal for her outstanding performance.
Aside from being the primary breadwinner and head of household for her family, Margaret was an avid sportswoman. She pitched in one of the first city's women softball league and taught her children to play softball and volleyball. She also repaired houses: put up sheetrock, did plumbing repairs and installed roofs. At age 93, she was found on top of her roof supervising a home repair job! She was an astute businesswoman and could barter any salesman out of their shirt.
Margaret was actively involved with St. Gregory's Parish. She loved to sing and dance. She was a long-time choir member there and organized a civic senior citizen group of dancers and singers: always the life of the party! She received a medal for a Senior Olympic event in volleyball. She was honored at a public library as part of a mural and oral history project for Women of the West Side.
She loved her home which she called my "Blue Heaven" and enjoyed family gatherings, decorating for holidays, gardening, bird and butterflies watching, smelling the roses and saying all the while, "Everything is beautiful"!
Her children are direct descendants of Jose Antonio Navarro, a Texas patriot and one of the original signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Margaret was also very patriotic: she celebrated her last Independence Day waving a flag and singing the Star-Spangled Banner! She was also signing this song and exclaiming, "Everything is beautiful" as she started her final journey to her eternal Blue Heaven. She is beloved and is greatly missed.
Her surviving children are Robert Palafox, Judy Margaret Everett and spouse Bobby, Christina Palafox and partner Diana Kersey. She had 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
A Rosary will be held at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church on Friday, July 26 at 6 pm with a funeral mass presided by Father O'Gorman also at this church on Saturday, July 27th at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Union of the Sisters of the Presentation, 8931 Callaghan Rd. San Antonio, TX 78230.