Margaret Doris (Bridenthal) Gaines, 94, passed away at 8:37 am Thursday, August 17, 2016 at Rolling Meadows Health and Rehab Center in LaFontaine, Indiana. Margaret was born June 17, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, to George William and Anna M. (Lucas) Miller.
She was one of eight children, four sisters, Francis Swartz, Pauline Hill, Arlene Chatterson, and Margie Thompson, and three brothers Robert Miller, George Miller Jr., and Lewis Miller. All have preceded her in passing. Margaret has many nieces and nephews. Her love blankets many states.
Margaret and her siblings were born and lived in Michigan on a family farm on 9 mile road. When times got hard they moved to Marion, Indiana with her family and after a while, they were able to buy a small farm in Meir, Indiana. This is where Margaret met John Bridenthal, a farm hand and fell in love. They were married June 7, 1940.
John and Margaret have three daughters, Shirley June Wrisk of Wabash, Indiana, Patricia Ann (Roger) Tate of Waterford, Michigan, and Doris Evelyn (Jack) Gothard of Colorado Springs, Colorado. They bought a home in Wabash in 1948, and raised the three girls there. John passed away on April 7, 1975. Margaret continued to live in her home in Wabash and married an old family friend, William O. Gaines. They were married July 4, 1991; William passed January 27, 2005.
Margaret is survived by her three daughters as well as two grandsons, Lonni Wrisk of Dewey, Arizona, and Lanyard (Tracie) Wrisk of Mesa, Arizona, and two granddaughters, MaLinda (Brian) Wynn of Queen Creek, Arizona and Suzanne (Scott) Samuelson of Colorado City, Colorado. She also has eight great grandsons, James Wrisk of Chandler, Arizona, Bryce Wynn of Queen Creek, Arizona, Derick Samuelson and Devin Samuelson, both of Colorado City, Colorado, Skylor Wrisk of Prescott Valley, Arizona, Jaydon Robinson of Chino Valley, Arizona, Taylor Wrisk of Dewey, Arizona, and Maddix Wrist of Chandler, Arizona; five great granddaughters, Sheena Wrisk of Dewey, Arizona, Alexandria Geroux Dorholt of New York City, New York, Shelby Wynn, of Queen Creek, Arizona, Avery Luzi of Paso Robles, California, and Cailin Claridge, of Mesa, Arizona.
Margaret gave her time and love to her friends and family. She was involved in many lodges. A life member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 286 where she also served as President, the American Legion Auxiliary Post 15, the Federal Order of the Eagles, where she was a Golden Age Eagle, and a life member of the Women of the Moose Wabash Chapter 878. She held all chairs at the Moose, College of Regents, Junior Grad Regent, Senior Regent, Junior Regent, and Chaplin. Margaret lived a full wonderful life in Wabash. She opened the first Holden Red Stamp store on Wabash Street. She worked at several factories, Magnetics, Spencer Cardinal aka Wagners aka United Technologies as a harness inspector for 28 years, retiring in 1987. She was an avid bowler belonging to several leagues including VFW, Moose, 500 Club, the National 600 Club and she was inducted in to the Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri. After retirement, Margaret also enjoyed crafts. She loved gardening and caring for her flowers. She also enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels in her yard. The Indiana Cardinal was her favorite.
A celebration of her life will be 10:30 am Monday, August 22, 2016 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave. Wabash, with Pastor Terry Hinds officiating. Burial will be in the Estates of Serenity Cemetery in Marion. Friends may call 2-6 pm Sunday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials are to the charity of the donor’s choice.