Margaret Wright Odell, 101, faithful Christian, loving wife and mother, dedicated homemaker and home economics teacher, passed away in her home at The Hidenwood Retirement Community in Newport News on Thursday morning, September 12, 2024.
Margaret was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the fifth of five surviving children of William Abbott and Mary Rowena Wiatt Wright. She grew up in the Brambleton section of downtown Norfolk, where her life revolved around Park Avenue Baptist Church, a love of family, and travel made possible by her father’s unlimited pass on the Southern Railway. Despite the hardships of the Depression, her family was able to take several trips out west, as well as to the Chicago and New York World’s Fairs. She often spoke fondly of those childhood adventures. In later years, she cherished these memories of parents, brothers, and sister.
She attended James Madison College (James Madison University), majored in home economics, and graduated in 1944. Returning to Norfolk to teach, she married Earl Homer Odell in 1947, with whom she joined the Greatest Generation in populating the Baby Boom. After the birth of her two sons, it was thought she could no longer have children. Determined not to give up, she is reported to have pleaded with her husband, “please Earl, just one more,” and surprised everyone with the birth of twin girls.
In 1963, she returned to teaching home economics, first at Northside Junior High School and later at Lake Taylor High School (both in Norfolk), where she taught until her retirement in 1988. She firmly embraced the management aspects of home economics. She specialized in dressmaking and tailoring and kept abreast of new techniques and fashion trends. She perfected these skills in clothing she made for her children in their younger years and for herself well into her senior years. As she taught her daughters to sew, she also imparted important skills of thrift and project management.
She was an avid furniture refinisher, often making do with pieces others had thrown away but to her eye were useful or had good lines. With her husband Earl and sons Chauncey and Curtis, she redesigned and refurbished their home on Bayview Boulevard. She craved light and openness and directed husband and sons to take down walls, strip layers of wallpaper, install patio doors, and restore light oak floors. She loved hosting Sunday school parties and ladies’ circles in this home she made, and she especially delighted in gathering her large family around her dining room table.
She remained active in retirement, taking on yet more home improvement projects while finding time to volunteer. At Temple Baptist Church, she continued to teach the young adult Sunday School class. She launched a community literacy program which she directed for 15 years. She took up genealogy and helped a missionary friend write her memoir. At water aerobics, she rekindled old friendships. When she moved to The Hidenwood in 2009, she volunteered with the library for several years. She greeted everyone with a smile, and she looked for joy in every day.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William Abbott Wright and Mary Rowena Wiatt Wright; her husband of 64 years, Earl H. Odell (1920-2011); her siblings and their spouses, William W. Wright (Madge, Camille), Robert S. Wright (Marguerite), Andrew G. Wright (Ethel), Mary P. (Dolly) Pond (Robert B.); her son-in-law, John T. Metzke (Margaret) and daughter-in-law, Susan Lambert Odell (Curtis). She missed them all.
She is survived by her children, Chauncey A. Odell (Pat), Curtis E. Odell, Mary Odell Keeling (Warren), and Margaret S. Odell (John Hall); her grandchildren, Christopher Lambert Odell (Heidi Furr), Pamela Keeling Schultz (Mike), and David Warren Keeling (Sibylle Lang); nieces and nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. She loved them all.
A Memorial Service will be held at Weymouth Funeral Home on Saturday, September 28 at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Randy Shepley of First Baptist Church Newport News officiating. Private burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Newport News Food Pantry, 12716 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606.
The family thanks the staff of The Hidenwood for loving and caring for Mom and for their many expressions of kindness to us. In addition, we are grateful for the support, care, and guidance provided by Riverside Hospice Care.
