Margaret Hazel Church passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 4th, 2017, in Turlock, California. She was 98 years old. Born in Hibbing, Minnesota, on September 21st, 1918, she was the youngest child of Arthur and Anna Green. Soon after, her parents moved her and her two siblings to Eureka, California. While growing up, she developed a lifelong love of swimming and reading.

After World War II broke out, she enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps. She was stationed in Canada, Alaska, Okinawa, and Korea. After the war, she moved to Rio Vista, California, where she married Emery E Church, and had three children. Every year the family looked forward to camping in the redwoods and visiting with family at her sister’s cabin on the Consumes River.

After their children were grown, Emery and Margaret traveled all over the world. Later they moved to Turlock, California, to be near her daughter’s family.

She is survived by her late husband’s son, Malcolm E Church, his five children, and his five grandchildren. She is also survived by her three children, Deanne Carlson (Larry), Robert Church (Trisha), and Debbie Church. She is survived by four more grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  

A Memorial Service will be held at the Congregational Church on Saturday, May 20th at 2:00pm, in Rio Vista, California. Donations in her honor can be sent to the Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation (RLS.org), or the Hearing Loss Association of America (hearingloss.org).