Margaret Lucille Renalds Witmer

Margaret Lucille Renalds Witmer of Oxford, Ohio died September 21, 2021. She was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia on February 6, 1934, a daughter of the late Ray and Elizabeth (Garber) Renalds. She attended elementary and high school in Broadway, VA, graduating in 1951. Margaret enjoyed her childhood years growing up on a farm and living in the Old Lincoln Homestead on Route 42. She was a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren.

In 1956 Margaret married Richard Clark Witmer of Ashland, Ohio. He died Dec. 20, 2000. She is survived by two sons, Richard Lynn and wife Ruth of Toronto, Canada; David and wife Iris of North Ridgeville, Ohio; two daughters, Candace Crist and husband Tom of Oxford, Ohio; and Diane Cooper and partner Eric Rodgers of Lithia Springs, Georgia. She leaves nine grandchildren: Kiri, Travis, Lindsay, Julian, Ethan, Jeremy, Caroline, Catalina, and Alana; her twin sister, Mildred Louise Wittig (and husband Berlin) of Upper Marlboro, MD; and two sisters-in-law: Anita Renalds of Villa Rica, GA and Velina Renalds of Nashville, TN; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers Bobby, Sidney, and Paul Renalds.

Margaret met Dick Witmer at the Washington, D.C. Church of the Brethren, where they were later married. Dick eventually became a minister for the Church of the Brethren and pastored churches in several states. In addition to being a minister’s wife, Margaret was a homemaker and a secretary. She was known for her green thumb and her ability to get almost any plant to bloom, her “tatting” talent (shown in her collar above), her love of playing card games, her active church participation, and devotion to Christian faith throughout her life. On several occasions, Margaret volunteered with Church of the Brethren Emergency Disaster Ministries; for example, traveling to Houston, Texas to help after a hurricane and spending two weeks in New York City after 9/11.

Private family burial will be held at the Dickey Cemetery, Ashland, Ohio.

It was Margaret’s wish that memorial donations be made to the Church of the Brethren Emergency Disaster Ministries. Gifts can be made online here: Brethren Disaster Ministries or by mailing a check made payable to: Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1674. If mailing a check, please indicate “Disaster Ministries-in memory of Margaret Witmer” in the memo line.

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