Obituary
Marjorie Elizabeth (Prentice) Meador passed away on August 10, 2021, after a short illness. She was 103 years old–just six weeks short of her 104th birthday,
Marjorie was born in Hartford, CT on September 28, 1917 to the (late) Col. James and Beda Prentice. She worked for Travelers Insurance in Hartford for several years and met her future husband, Major, at a dance at the Crescent Beach Ballroom in New London. He was a motor machinist on a submarine in the U.S. Navy. They married in 1943 when he was on leave and they settled in Connecticut after the war. They were blessed with twin boys, Richard and Robert. They moved to Claremont, New Hampshire, when the boys were young and Marjorie cooked at the school for 25 cents a day, eventually becoming kitchen manager. Major owned a camera shop in town where he took family portraits and she hand-colored them at the kitchen table in the evening. They joined the First Congregational Church. He was Master of the Masonic Lodge and she became Worthy Matron of Eastern Star.
Like most of that generation, the Meadors were patriotic Americans. During The Cold War, Marge was trained and served in the Ground Observer Corps as an Operation Skywatch spotter looking for low-flying aircraft that might attempt to penetrate American airspace.
After the boys joined the Navy, Major’s job took them to Chicago and then to Knoxville, TN, where they lived for about 30 years. They joined the Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville and Marjorie became a Deaconess, visiting shut-ins and those in the hospital every week. A few months before her passing, Marge was informed she was the oldest living member of the church which is celebrating its 225th anniversary this fall.
In 2004 Marge and Major bought a home in North Fort Myers after being lured by the balmy weather they’d enjoyed on several winter vacations. Tamiami Village welcomed them and they found friends and activities galore. Marjorie joined Hobby Club, ran the Book Table at the Trash and Treasurers sale, baked goodies for shut-ins, and was devoted to preparing the Communion Table on Sundays for the Tamiami Community Church.
Many years after Major died, Marjorie suffered a hip replacement that confined her to a wheelchair. This ended her independence, so she moved to Calusa Harbour and enjoyed many activities there: Bingo, Wii Bowling, Beading and Bible Study. New and old friends loved her upbeat outlook on life and quick wit. Her mind remained sharp until the end. We thank the Lord for her compassionate life serving Him and others.
She was predeceased by her husband; her son, Richard and his wife, Candolyn; and two brothers, James and William Prentice. She is survived by her son, Robert, and his wife, Jane; her granddaughter, Dawn Vander Stoep, and her husband, Cameron; her grandson, Brandon Meador and his wife, Nichelle; her grandson, Ryan Meador, and his wife, Kelly Ran; her granddaughter, Paige Bassett, and her husband, Forrest; and four great grandchildren: Evan and Conner Vander Stoep, and Corban and Aurora Meador.
Funeral plans are incomplete at this time. Burial will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Claremont, NH, in the spring of 2022.
I received Marge’s obituary card today. I was saddened to hear of Marge’s passing. She and my Mom, Bea Thacker were close friends in Tamiami Village and kept in contact. She and Mom would yak on the phone, last time we spoke was in July. She told us about her injury but that she was getting along pretty good. Mom had been in and out of the hospital for about 18mo, after she broke her hip in 2020.
Marge’s Christmas card came back after Christmas. I’d written a note to tell her of Mom’s passing on Dec 9th, she was 96. I tried to call and found the number was disconnected.
They both had a wonderful Christmas in heaven.
My husband died in 2009, I worked until 2013 and Mom and I have been living full time together since January 2016. We moved to Franklin, NC where my husband and I had a cabin. These last 5 years with Mom have been wonderful and I totally understand you and your families loss.
You are in my prayers. It was such a blessing to have a born again Mom, we’ll see them soon.
Linda Johnson
Marge was a very positive person and a Born Again Christian. I was amazed at her energy, particularly as she approached 100. She lived independently , did her own shopping and drove her car. Even in her advanced years, she wore makeup and jewelry. She would occasionally write me a letter. Her handwriting was beautiful.
I am into Ancestry and Marge helped to describe how things were back in Connecticut when she and my mom were growing up.
She was a wonderful, positive person. She loved each birthday and that her family would come to celebrate with her. I know she is in a good place right now, but those that are left behind will miss her.
Christmastime in Denver - 2010
We were so blessed to have you in our lives for as long as we did. We enjoyed hearing all your stories and recollections over the years. Your curiosity about the latest technology always made me smile, like that one time you jokingly asked while I was taking pictures on my cell phone, "what do you do when you run out of film in that thing?" We will miss your sense of humor and kind nature.
Love, Paige & Forrest
Until we meet again.
Love you forever,
Robert and Jane
Celebrating her 102nd birthday.
The Coopers, Selkirk, Scotland.