Margaret Ruth Horstman

Monday, June 22, 2009

Margaret R. Horstman, 85, of Evansville died June 19 at Mill Pond Health Campus in Greencastle after a prolonged illness.

She was born the youngest daughter of James and Matilda Mundorf Lashley in Evansville on Oct. 1, 1923. In 1947, she married Faril A. Ward Jr., Evansville, who passed away in an industrial accident in October 1948 in South Bend.

On Aug. 25, 1957, she married Edward F. Horstman and was his devoted companion until his death in 1985.

Margaret graduated from Reitz High School in Evansville in 1940 and worked during the war at Republic Aviation. Over her lifetime, she worked as a secretary for Charles Leick & Co., the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and Welborn Hospital in the school of nursing and in the business office.

Since 1957, Margaret was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a proud member of the VFW 1114 Ladies Auxiliary for many years.

Survivors include her son, Faril Alan Ward and his wife Maribeth of Greencastle, and two grandsons, Stuart Stephen Ward of Kansas City, Missouri and Robert "Bo" Walker of Greencastle. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Krissy Wade of Highland and Keely Davenport of Bloomington as well as three great-grandchildren, Matthew, Riley and Emma Wade.

She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, sister Helen Ohning and Helen's husband, Fritz.

Friends may call at the Alexander West Funeral Home, Evansville from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will follow at the Lutheran Cemetery in Evansville.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church and the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW 1114.