Margaret Poling

Margaret Ann Poling, age 88 years formerly of Berrien Springs, Michigan, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, devout Christian, seamstress, and Auxiliary Gideon died peacefully at 5:53 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at Brookdale Senior Living in Granger, Indiana following a brief illness.

She was born on October 5, 1934 in Newton Township, Illinois to the Rev. Phillip W.O. and Doris M. (Kramer) Chambers and was graduated from the Huntington (Indiana) North High School.  She continued her education at Purdue University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in 1959.  She came with her family to Berrien Springs in 1961, and taught as a substitute teacher in area schools for thirty-two years.  In 2018 her house was needed by the school district to make way for the new football field, so she moved to Niles to be closer to her daughters.

Margaret was a longtime member of the Berrien Center (Michigan) Bible Church and its missions committee, and a volunteer at Five Pines Ministries.  She was an auxiliary member of The Gideons International, a member of Lay Witness Missions, a Group Leader with Bible Study Fellowship, and for several years was the head cook at the former Crystal Spings Camp.

As a young woman, Margaret became the first female licensed radio engineer in Indiana.  She and her husband began a tradition of camping, taking their young family on a tour of the U.S. west coast, joining the Rolling Shamrock Campers and Hikers, and camping throughout Michigan.  She was an excellent seamstress, making her own wedding dress and the dresses of her bridal party, and making clothing for her family – sometimes overnight, as kids are prone to need from time-to-time.  Her household played host to four foreign exchange students, and to several student teachers who came to Berrien to learn hearing-impaired techniques.  She also maintained a garden and enjoyed canning the produce for future use.

Margaret was a volunteer at the Berrien County Youth Fair, taking tickets and other tasks, but was uniquely well equipped to judge home economics related divisions.  She hosted weekly coffee gatherings, and as guests became homebound, she delivered meals to their homes and provided transportation to appointments.  She also enjoyed taking jigsaw puzzles to the Berrien Springs McDonald’s restaurant where friends would gather around a table to visit while completing the puzzle.

On April 14, 1956 at the former Etna Avenue United Brethren Church in Huntington she was married – with her father officiating – to Harold Emmett Poling with whom she celebrated the remarkable Fifty-fourth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on October 15, 2009.  She was also sadly preceded in death by a daughter, Cheryl Poling on October 26, 2020; and by her parents and her brothers, John Chambers and Bill Chambers.

Surviving family includes her daughters, Becky (& Kent) Fahl of Berne, Indiana, Nancy (& Tom) Rach of Chiapas, Mexico, Janet (& Brett) Elms of Niles, and Ruthie (& Michael) Clanton of Niles; grandchildren Rachel (& Justin) Szucsits, Rob Fahl, David Rach, Joe Rach, Brianna Elms, Ty Elms, Samuel Clanton, and Jonathan Clanton; great-granddaughter Aurora Szucsits; and Margaret’s sister, Mary Crittenden of Manchester, Connecticut, and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Margaret Poling will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 12, 2022 at the Berrien Center Bible Church, 8830 M-140 in Berrien Center with Pastor Bill Zebell of the church officiating, assisted by Margaret’s son-in-law, Pastor Kent Fahl.  Committal will follow at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs.  The services will be available via the livestream on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices/ .

The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles and on Monday, at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Contributions in memory of Margaret may be made to the Berrien Center Bible Church, 8830 M-140, Berrien Center, Michigan 49102; https://www.berriencenter.church/ ; or to The Gideons International, Post Office Box 140800, Nashville, Tennessee 37214; https://gideons.org/ .  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Margaret was clearly on a mission all of her life, caring for her husband and family, caring for the community around her, supporting her church and missions, always sharing Jesus; fulling the command to Love God and Love People.