Marguerite Ann Reed's Obituary
Marguerite Ann (Malzahn) Reed, 87, of Rancho San Diego went to her heavenly home on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017. Born Sept. 6, 1930, to Albert and Elsa Malzahn of San Diego, and lived most of her life in San Diego County.Growing up in the City of San Diego, she attended Emerson Elementary School and Memorial Middle School. She graduated from San Diego High School in 1948 where she was a Sergeanette for the Cavers. In 1950, she graduated from then San Diego Junior College with an Associate Arts Degree in Recreation Leadership. While there she was president and treasurer of the Associated Women Students.Marguerite’s life changed forever when she met her future husband, Fred Ulyless Reed, an active duty Navy Machinist Mate and Seabee. Marguerite and Fred were married on January 5, 1952, and she became a full-timeNavy wife, homemaker, and mother of the couple’s three daughters, Cynthia, Suzanne and Jo Anne.For nearly 30 years, Fred and Marguerite were foster parents for San Diego County’s adoption program, caring for nearly 400 infants and toddlers. Marguerite also provided private childcare services at their Santee home. And, somehow, she still found time to serve as her daughters’ troop leader for Brownies (Girl Scouts).Marguerite’s contributions to the nation and her community can be traced to her involvement as a member of the Walther League, a Lutheran youth group at Trinity Lutheran Church of San Diego. Later, as a longtime member of First Lutheran Church of El Cajon, Marguerite donated thousands of hours to the congregation as a member of its Fellowship Committee, Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League, Timothy Girls and Board of Trustees.Following her husband’s passing in 1991, Marguerite became involved with Eagle’s Wings and the Veterans’ Memorial Center while supporting Seabee Veterans of America Island X24 and the 24th Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (Fred’s former Seabee unit). She donated hundreds of hours to Eagle’s Wings, a grief recovery/support group for widows/widowers of military veterans. Marguerite was characterized by Chaplain Ron Ritter, founder of Eagle’s Wings, as the “stirrer that stirs the Eagle’s Wings’ love potion.”On Feb. 8, 2009, the ninth birthday of Eagle’s Wings, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors declared that day to be “MARGUERITE REED DAY” throughout San Diego County in recognition of her community service, and for being “such caring and worthy person.”Marguerite is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Reed-Porter (Richard), Suzanne Cowan (David) and Jo Anne Lavin (John); grandchildren, Jason Cowan (Krista), James Cowan, Mark Porter, Julie Lavin and Sarah (Porter) Pond (Tim); great-grandchildren Micah Matson, Kali Matson, Staisha Cowan, Christopher Cowan and Jadin Cowan. Marguerite is also survived by her brother, John Malzahn, and her sister, Elouise Vaughn (Charles).If you would like to honor Marguerite by making a donation in lieu of flowers, two organizations dear to her heart are First Lutheran Church in El Cajon and Veterans Village of San Diego.
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