PORT TOBACCO, MD—Margaret Louise Gates of Port Tobacco, Md., died May 7, 2021, at her residence. She was 95.
Margaret worked for many years as a financial manager at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) before retiring in 1981. In retirement, she was a member of the Antique Arts Club, enjoyed traveling, tending the daylilies in her garden, cooking and entertaining family and friends and playing cards. She was a prolific quilter and an avid reader with a keen interest in presidential history and she never missed the opportunity to tell a good joke.
Margaret was the daughter of George Thorne Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Scheer Thorne. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Ernest “Jimmy” Gates; a brother, George Thorne Jr.; and two sisters, Zelda Johnson and Elsie Ruth Thorne.
She is survived by a daughter, Gail Gates of Upper Marlboro, Md.; a son, George Gates (Lincoln) of Lancaster; two sisters, Dorothy Roland of Hollywood, Md., and Wilma Tinsley of Harrisonburg; one brother, Robert Thorne (Ruth) of Charlotte Hall, Md.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 19, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at La Plata United Methodist Church, 3 Port Tobacco Road, La Plata, Md. A private interment will be scheduled for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090 (www.alz.org); Hospice of the Chesapeake, 2505 Davis Road, Waldorf, Maryland 20603 (www.hospicechesapeake.org); or La Plata United Methodist Church, 3 Port Tobacco Road, La Plata, MD 20646 (www.laplataumc.org).
Face masks are required for all services and social distancing will be observed with limited attendance of no more than 50 people.
