Margaret Sprankle

Margaret Mary (Peggy/Margy) Sprankle, née Sanders, passed away on 19 September 2022,

joining her dear husband and other loved ones. She was so loved by family and friends as well

as by all those whose lives she touched.

Mom was born in Waynesboro, PA, on 21 February 1929, the second of 12 children of Vincent

and Viola Sanders. Living on Broad Street, down the block from St. Andrew’s Catholic Church,

she experienced a childhood with built-in playmates and best friends, both from her immediate

family and the small, close community. Pictures from those days show her ever-present,

beautiful smile and those sparkling blue eyes. At Waynesboro High School, she excelled in her

studies, especially math and business, was the president of the Library Club, acted in the Senior

play (Junior Miss), worked on the yearbook and the newspaper staff, and was named in the

“Who’s Who” section in the yearbook as doing most for the class. Notes from her classmates all

remark on her trademark smile.

Mom and Dad met at a party at his cousin Dorothy’s house in the early 1950’s. Dorothy was

Mom’s best friend in high school. As Dad told the story, as soon as he saw her, he was

convinced she was the one for him. He promptly stopped dating anyone else and started

wooing her, calling her Peggy, introducing her proudly to his family, meeting her large family,

and driving from Baltimore up to Rouzerville where, in addition to working fulltime at Craig

Insurance in Waynesboro, Mom worked part time at The Big Dipper, a popular community

restaurant and dance hall in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He would wait for her to get off work so

they could spend time together. Mom and Dad dated for a few years before tying the knot at St.

Andrew’s in 1953 with Dorothy as Mom’s Maid of Honor and his dad as the Best Man.

Mom’s first priority was always the family as they welcomed their 6 children over the years but

she also made sure she shared her kind heart, skills and talents with others. Whether it was

making casseroles or desserts for those who were sick or new to the neighborhood, working as

a secretary for a nearby businessman or at St. Mark in the Religious Education office,

laundering and ironing altar cloths for the church, coordinating family celebrations, leading the

Women’s Sodality or a school association, Mom was always in the middle of things. She taught

us the importance of volunteering and sharing our gifts and we are all the richer for the example

she consistently set for us. Mom and Dad always had time for school plays and choirs, sporting

events, special birthday celebrations, and gave us a life of wonderful memories. Mom had a

wonderful sense of humor and could tease with the best of them. And there was always, always

that smile!

Mom was an unwavering example of faith in action. She attended daily Mass for many, many

years until it was too difficult for her to do so. Her daily prayers included anyone who asked for

them, and a lot of people who never knew she was praying for them. Mom had a loving,

personal relationship with God and we count that - and her endless love - as the greatest

legacies she left to us.

You’ve now read of Mom’s precious life. Making casseroles or washing altar cloths doesn’t

sound that exciting, does it? When one speaks of someone’s accomplishments, the focus is

often the measure of impact in the larger world. Mom’s impact was at once, smaller yet so

much grander than any famous activist, politician, actor or other celebrity. By just being her

humble self, she influenced all those around her with her kindness and sweetness, her inner

beauty, her peaceful soul. How blessed we all have been to have her in our lives. Now Mom

can look down and see the tremendous impact and the resulting ripple effect of her life. We

know our God has already told her, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Our dear mother was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Herbert Sprankle Jr, in the

beginning of July 2022. In addition to her children, Ken (Reina), Mary (John Scavilla), Terry (Ed

Kostkowski), Pat (Lee Ann), Tom (Liz), Michelle (Michael Pelletier), 17 grandchildren, and

great-grandchildren, she is also survived by brothers (Gene and Vince), sisters (Marie, Lois,

Bernie and Aileen), sisters- and brothers-in-law, Carl and Rosemarie Amrhein, James and

Elizabeth Diggs, and Eleanor Sprankle, and dozens of nieces and nephews, all who loved her

dearly.

We know she is so happy in heaven celebrating with Dad, her parents and parents-in-law and

those she loved on earth. We miss her so much.

A Mass celebrating her amazing life will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ellicott City,

MD at 1000 on Friday, 28 October 2022.

Donations can be made to the Church of the Resurrection, 3175 Paulskirk Dr. Ellicott City, MD.

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