RICH SQUARE – Margaret Louise Martin Womble, age 97, devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother, died November 8, 2012 in Durham.

A native of Conway, she was born April 16, 1915.  She was the daughter of the late Alvah Hubert Martin and the late Irene Evelyn Elliott. After graduating from Conway High School in1932, she attended and graduated from East Carolina Teachers College (now East Carolina University) in 1936 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics.

She was married to the late Edward Lee Womble for 52 years and they made their home in Rich Square. A lifelong educator, she taught at Conway High School, Plymouth High School, Rich Square School, and Northeast Academy in Lasker, where she retired in 1975 from teaching Third Grade.

A long-time member of Rich Square Baptist Church, she served there in many capacities, including the Women’s Missionary Union, and as a Sunday School teacher and pianist. She was a member of the Rich Square Garden Club and the Kirby Music and Literary Society.

Mrs. Womble served her country during World War II in the United States Navy WAVES. Upon completion of basic training at Cedar Falls, Iowa, she was assigned to the naval communications station at Minneapolis, Minnesota for the duration of the war, achieving the rank of Telegrapher Second Class. At the time of her death she was one of the oldest female veterans in North Carolina. She was a charter member of the Women In Military Service For America Memorial at Arlington, Virginia.

She was also predeceased by three brothers, Alvah Hubert Martin, Jr., Archie Elliott Martin, and George Elliott Martin.

Survivors include a daughter, Mary Lee Bailey and husband, Jeff, of Durham; two sons, Edward Franklin Womble and wife, Gloria, of Suffolk, Virginia, and Wayne Louis Womble and wife, Sylvia, of Arden; and two grandsons, Edward Bradley Bailey and Matthew Charles Bailey of Durham.

Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m. at the Rich Square Baptist Church. Burial with military honors will follow at Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Rich Square.

The family wishes to thank Home Instead Senior Care of Durham caregivers and staff, and the staff of Community Home Care and Hospice.

The family has requested that anyone wishing to share a memorial gift do so to Rich Square Baptist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 589, Rich Square, N.C., 27869.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service in Rich Square is handling the arrangements.