Margaret Cunningham Metcalf

Margaret Cunningham was born on March 13, 1922 at home in Tucson to Clara Marie Schroeder and Walter Stanley Cunningham. Her father, a graduate of Purdue, founded the dairy husbandry department at the University of Arizona and was a professor in the school of agriculture.

Margaret attended Roskruge Elementary and Junior High School. She graduated from Tucson High School, class of 1939. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1943. While she was at the University she was President and a founding member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority on campus. She was a member of Phi Lambda Theta Education Honorary, President of Mortar Board, and the recipient of the Freeman Medal for the outstanding woman graduate. She was also listed in "Who's Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges. While attending a dance to support and entertain troops from Davis Monthan, she met the love of her life, Captain Joseph R. Metcalf. He was a B-24 pilot with the 491st Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force. He became the lead pilot for the 855th squadron and completed 30 missions over Germany. He was decorated with the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Joe and Margaret were married during the war on June 25,1943 in the Air Base Chapel in Waco, Texas. After the war they returned to Tucson so Joe could obtain his business degree from the U of A on the
GI bill. He was hired in management with Sears Roebuck and Company and his job took them many places over the years. They retired back to Tucson in 1979 and spent their summers at Hawley Lake and later in Pinetop/Lakeside. They had three children and 5 grandchildren during their 54 year marriage. Son David, daughter Marcia and grandson Deron also graduated from the University of Arizona.

While in Tucson during the 40's and 50's Margaret was a board member of the Tucson Women's Club and the Catalina Junior Women's Club. She was an accomplished musician and was the organist at many churches. She was a member and President of the Assistance League of Newport Beach and a volunteer and officer at Hoag Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Later she was a member of Chapter E, PEO; Alpha Chi Omega Alumnae and the Assistance League of Tucson and an active member of St Paul's United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Tucson Symphony Women's Association and most enjoyed helping with the young artists.

She was an avid fan and ticket holder of the Arizona basketball team and loved her summers in the White
Mountains. Among her favorite loves were were playing bridge , listening to music and the Opera , traveling (she visited almost all of the continents), and last but not least she loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.