MARGARET GROVES Margaret Cummins Blake Groves age 91 died Monday, December 03, 2012 at her residence in Columbus. Services will be held Friday, December 07, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home Chapel with Minister Billy Ferguson officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday December 6, 2012 from 6 pm until 8 pm at the funeral home. Mrs. Groves was born on Friday, November 11, 1921 in Washington, DC, the same day the unknown soldier was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, to the late George Russell and Frances Bugg Blake. At the age of 5 the family redirected to Winfield, Kansas. She graduated from Winfield High School and the University of Texas with a degree in nutrition. After graduation, she was an assistant dietitian at Newton Memorial Hospital and later worked as the head dietitian at South Western College in Winfield. She was married to the late Dr. Edwin Donald Groves in 1949. Two years after they married they began their 14 year career working for the Point Four Program, now known as the United States Agency for International Development. They served in Burma (now known as Myamar), Bolivia, Guatemala, Liberia, and Iran. Margaret learned by trial and error how to use American cake mixes in Bolivia. This was before cake mixes had instructions for baking in high altitudes. In Burma she compiled a cookbook with both Burmese and American recipes. In the early 80s, they worked in Sudan with the United Nations International Labor Organization. After their life overseas, they moved to College Station, TX and four years later moved to Starkville. Before her illness she was an active member of the Columbus Church of Christ. She loved flowers, especially roses. She served as president of the Town & Country Garden Club 2 times, was the State World Gardening Chairperson for the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, and President of the local Rose Society. She won numerous awards at both the local and state flower shows for floral designs and roses. She gave programs to local and surrounding garden clubs, on Japanese floral design. She served as President of the Home Economic Club and was a member of the Womens Club. She was fascinated by different archaeological findings. In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her brother George Blake. One Son: Kim Groves (Beverly), McKinney, TX One Daughter: Judith Groves, Columbus, MS Two Sisters: Lucy Moudy, Happy, TX Mary House, Albuquerque, NM In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: Donor's Choice
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