The Life of Margery J. Gotshall
Margery L. Gotshall, age 98, of Holland, MI passed away Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Zeeland Hospital. For most of her life, Margery lived in Bethlehem, PA, moving to Michigan in 2016 to be near family.
She was born on August 21, 1923 to Eugene A. and Mildred (Wallace) Leinroth, in Franklin, PA and was raised in the Philadelphia suburbs. In 1945 she received her degree in Sociology from Wells College, Aurora, NY. Throughout her life she remained an ardent supporter, volunteer and champion for Wells. Most recently, she served as an Honorary Trustee. After college Marge worked as a caseworker in Philadelphia for The Society to Protect Children from Cruelty.
Marge married R. Jordan Gotshall in 1947. She and Jordan had two children, David and Susan. The couple made their home in Bethlehem, PA where Jordan worked for Air Products & Chemicals Inc. Family was her greatest joy and her first priority. She adored her five grandchildren and five great grandchildren and they, in turn, adored their "G.G.". Marge traveled extensively both internationally and within the US. She was an avid reader all her life and an enthusiastic knitter and maker of baby blankets. She loved dressing up to give out candy on Halloween and was able to do so this year.
Marge made a career of service to non-profit organizations over the years. Chief among them were American Association of University Women (50 years including tenure as president of the Bethlehem branch,); Meals on Wheels (25 years); The Junior League of the Lehigh Valley; Art Goes to School; the Burnside Plantation of Historic Bethlehem Partnership; and, the Nurse Family Partnership in Bethlehem. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, and later Wesley United Methodist Church both in Bethlehem.
Marge was preceded in death by her husband who died in 1985, by her sister Barbara L. Mehl and by her brother Eugene A. Leinroth, Jr.
She is survived by her two children, David (Karen) Gotshall of Holland, MI and Susan (Lee) Gotshall-Maxon, of San Rafael, CA; five grandchildren (Linda Reed, Stephen Gotshall, Timothy Gotshall, Elizabeth Gorham and William Gotshall-Maxon); five great grandchildren (Gavin Reed, Emily Reed, Clara Gorham, Jack Gorham and Aubrey Gotshall) and a niece and two nephews.
A private family service and celebration of her life will be held at Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill, PA where Margery's urn will be placed next to her husband's. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity or to Nurse Family Partnership in her memory.