MARGARET WALTZ SCHENDEL

MARGARET WALTZ SCHENDEL (1922-2012) Margaret Waltz Schendel, 90, passed away September 13, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Elsie Waltz, by her husband, former Monitor correspondent Gordon Schendel, her sister Laura Waltz, her brother Fred Waltz, her daughter Jennifer Schendel, and her son William Schendel. She is survived by three daughters, Cynthia Schendel, Amy Schendel and Jenny Schendel, and by her son Eric Schendel, his wife Fionnuala and their son Keith. Margaret was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 29, 1922. She spent her childhood in Brecksville and in Cleveland, where she graduated from high school. After studying art in college, she got a job in New York City as an illustrator and art editor for a magazine publisher. She met her husband, journalist Gordon Schendel, in New York City. After they got married they lived on the east coast (Cleveland, New York City and the Washington DC area) for several years before deciding to move to Mexico. They spent eleven years in Mexico, where Gordon worked as an author and foreign correspondent, living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, and Cuernavaca. Margaret assisted Gordon in his research and helped edit his articles and books, in between raising and homeschooling five children. She painted beautiful oils of Mexico. In 1965 she and her family moved to McAllen, Texas, so the children could finish their education in the US. Gordon took a job at The Monitor as a feature writer, and Margaret worked for 15 years as administrative assistant for the nursing school of McAllen General Hospital (now McAllen Medical Center). After she retired and Gordon had passed away, she volunteered at the International Museum of Arts and Sciences and traveled extensively with her sister Laura, visiting Europe and Egypt, among other places (where she explored inside the Great Pyramid alone, with a flashlight). Margaret was an adventuress who also worked hard for her family. She had great strength and courage. She will be greatly missed. We wish her "Bon Voyage!" to new adventures with the Blessings of Christ. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care of Funeraria Del Angel in Mission, Texas; a Dignity Memorial Provider. Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries