Margaret Louise Royce

Margaret Louise Royce, 93, of Morgantown, passed peacefully surrounded by her sons, their wives, her brothers and nephews at the Sundale Nursing Home on Monday, March 2, 2020. Margaret was born April 26, 1926, in Tunnelton, WV, a daughter to Edward and Mabel Watkins Simpson.

The family would move to Preston County, and Margaret would spend her younger years in Tunnelton and Arthurdale, WV. They would relocate to Morgantown, and Margaret would graduate from Morgantown High School in 1944. Margaret would then ride the train to attend a business school in Charleston.

Margaret had an incredible work ethic and began her career during the war-making munitions at a plant in Arthurdale. Later she would work as a hostess at Mount Chateau and retired from Sterling Faucet as an assembler. She would often work two jobs to provide for her family and still found time to be active in her community.

She was instrumental in a committee to bring emergency ambulance services to all of Monongalia County, was the co-founder of the Decker’s Creek Valley Days, and held a realtors license for many years. Margaret was a proud member of the Kitchenaire Band and participated in many other Mon County Senior Center activities.

Margaret was part of the Bowling League Team State Champs, and with her sister, Dorothy was Doubles State Champs. She was an avid camper. Margaret would set up camp near Parsons, Nags Head, NC, and Big Bear Lake, where she organized her family reunion that continues to this day. She has visited 49 of the 50 states except for Hawaii and especially enjoyed her dog rescue trips, where she would retrieve pets from kill shelters and work to find them their forever homes.

Margaret was a beloved wife of the late Delbert Ray Royce, Jr., mother to her four sons, Delbert Ray Royce, III, and wife Ginna, Dale Royce, and wife Tricia, all of Morgantown, Rick Royce and his late wife Sue-Mae and the late Charles Keith Royce. She was the sister of Jack Simpson of Morgantown, Charles Simpson, and Ron Simpson both of the Pisgah community, and the late Delores Shannon and Dorothy Maust.

She was grandmother to eight grandchildren, Teresa Royce, Melissa Thomas and husband Jon, Brandon Royce, Ashley McBride and husband Patrick, Beth Royce, Zachary Royce and wife Caitlin, Audrey Neely and husband Grant, Steven Royce and wife Alli and a great grandmother to Delaney Douthit, Sasha and Marcus Thomas, Benjamin, Andrew, Caleb, and Elise McBride, Magnolia and Josephine Royce and Hadley and Henry Neely. Also surviving are many special nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the Fred Jenkins Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, from 2 – 4 PM and 6 – 8 PM and again on Thursday from 1 PM until time of services at 2 PM with Rev. Vicki Sheppard officiating. Margaret will be laid to rest at the Mountain View Cemetery, Tunnelton, WV.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Margaret to a cause she supported, Animal Friends of North Central West Virginia, PO Box 1090, Dellslow, WV 26531.