Margaret E. Robarge 1930-2024

She graduated from Scott High School in 1949 and was elected as the Spring Sports Queen in her senior year. Upon graduation, she served as the executive secretary for the United Moving and Storage Company until her marriage to Haldon Robarge at St. James Lutheran Church, Toledo, on June 9, 1956.

She was employed as a secretary for American Airlines in Columbus; by Dr. Sofanic, an eye, ear and nose specialist, as his secretary and assistant in Canton; as a sales associate for JCPenney; and as receptionist and secretary for 14 physicians at Akron General Medical Center.

Her greatest treasure in life was her family. She had a special relationship with all her grandchildren. She enjoyed vacationing with them, taking them to the Great Darke County Fair, Disneyland and Niagara Falls, and traveling to numerous places and activities. She thoroughly enjoyed watching her four grandsons wrestle for Hoover High School. She was a big part of their lives. She never missed a wrestling match, starting in grade school, having traveled to the Ohio High School State Wrestling Championship matches. She was an avid cheerleader for them.

Finally retiring in 2001, she moved to Uniontown and developed an extremely complicated heart condition that needed surgery. At age 84, she was considered a high risk for surgery. The difficulty was to find a heart surgeon willing to perform the needed surgery. Jose Navia, a heart surgeon at The Cleveland Clinic was willing to do high-risk two heart surgeries. She recovered fully and enjoyed the Silver Sneakers program, which helped keep her healthy and able to live an active life for the next nine years.

At her husband’s 90th birthday celebration on Jan. 9 of this year, she was taken to the Summa emergency, transferred to Summa Hospital and diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia. She returned home and was bedfast the balance of her life on earth; however, she did not lose her battle with cancer — time simply ran out. She was a fighter and she ended her fight with cancer by simply going to sleep, surrounded by her family. She left her life on earth and joined her Savior Jesus in heaven. She had a deep and unwavering faith in her Lord Jesus, a strong spirit and a profound sense of humor.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, James and Robert, brother-in-law, Paul Robarge and his wife, Diane; granddaughter, Tara Marie; daughter-in-law, Pattie Valentich; sister-in-law, Barbara Eisenhauer; and nephews, David Babcock and Jeff Boros.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Hal; two sons, John and Jim (Lisa) Robarge, all in the Canton area; and daughter, Pam Robarge Burns and fiance, Dave Kinion of Estero, Florida; four grandsons and their spouses, Ryan (Haley) Burns, Nathan (Collette) Burns, Conner (friend, Kenzei) and Adam Burns (friend, Kendall); stepgranddaughter, Vanessa Valentich; and great-granddaughter, Cora Elizabeth Burns, all of whom live in Canton area. She also is survived by two sisters-in-law, Ruth Mayer (Gary) of Fredericksburg, Texas, and Tracy Lustic; and brother-in-law, Carl, “Ike” Eisenhauer, all of Sylvania. In addition, she is survived by Barabara Chiappeta, Pattie Hughs, Jim and Jeff Mayer, Jennifer Feucht, Carl Eisenhauer, Cyndy Homan, Linda Curtis, and Becky Boros; Shelly Thielen, Susie Ballard and numerous other great-nieces, -nephews and cousins.

If you wanted to find her in the morning, you could find her at McDonald’s with her husband, eating a sausage biscuit and drinking a Diet Coke for breakfast. She had an infectious laugh, which caused others to laugh with her. Her grandsons loved to tease her just to make and hear her laugh. She never really grew old and had a heart of gold.

Her family acknowledges and deeply appreciates the support given the family, the prayers offered for Margie from many friends and even people we do not know; the support of our church family; and the excellent care given by the health care professionals at The Cleveland Clinic, Summa Hospital and Aultman Hospice — especially (our daughter) Pam, who was the 24 / 7 nurse during the final weeks of her life. The care and countless prayers offered by so many gave us several more years to enjoy her laughter and company. There was an “Angel Among Us,” who is now laughing and cooking up a storm in heaven. An angel has left this earth a sadder place, but she has also filled us with many precious and happy memories.

A celebration of her life will be 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church, 349 Lindy Lane Ave. NW, North Canton, with the Bishop of the Southern Ohio Synod of the ELCA, Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt, presiding.

Family members will greet visitors two hours preceding the service.

The family invites you to join them, following the service, to share memories and friendships, relax and enjoy some excellent nourishment in the fellowship hall of Zion Lutheran Church.

She has been entrusted to the care of the Mark R. Vrabel Funeral Home, North Canton, 330-452-4041. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at hrobarge@neo.rr.com.

(special notice)