Margaret Ramsey Palmatary
August 30, 1939 – October 6, 2022
Margaret Palmatary, age 83, of Talleyville passed away peacefully on October 6, 2022. She was the daughter of Henry and Bertha Greenfield Ramsey. Margaret was one of 5 children, and the only girl. Margaret graduated from Alexis I DuPont High School in 1958.
Maggie, as she was called by many of her friends, was the only girl and grew up with her four brothers on a dairy farm and learned in her early life how to be a bad ass. Margaret served on the board at Grace Episcopal Church, and at Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting. She was a helper. Maggie had a wonderful sense of humor and loved life to the fullest.
Margaret and her former husband Harvey Sr. started Palmatary Sanitation Service, and she continued to run if for over 30 years after they divorced. This was a small trash service that covered New Castle County. She was known for being economically minded – one person’s trash is another’s treasure.
Margaret was a big believer in the more the merrier. She often had kids, family and friends stopping by and welcomed all of them. She was able to be both mischievous enough to appreciate kids humor, but also stern enough to keep one in line. She had a strong mind, opinionated without being overbearing, and genuinely enjoyed living life. Maggie had a wonderful singing voice and she loved to hum especially when she was happy. She was a lifelong member of the Grace Episcopal Church and a member of the choir. She was an exceptional piano player and had an organ in her home that she would play every day for her enjoyment as well as others.
Margaret loved to travel, especially with her friends Gail, Luba, and Edie May. With her granddaughter Lindsay, she made frequent trips to Rehoboth Beach for swimming and second hand stores along with many trips to Lancaster, PA for smorgasbords and fabric stores. Really it didn’t matter where she was going, wither it was visiting Ramsey’s farm, flexing with her granddaughter Jennifer, or going out to dinner with anyone, Margaret loved to just get out and go. Even after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she continued to visit family and friends.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Bertha, as well as her brothers, Harold, William, Stewart, and David, her son-in-law Gardner “Yogi” Powell, and her long-time friend and companion, Thomas Hynson.
She is survived by her sons, Harvey Jr. and David Palmatary and her daughter, Linda Powell, grandsons, Kevin and Jason Palmatary, granddaughters, Lindsay and Jennifer Powell, and great-grandson Calen McWilliams. She is additionally survived by her sisters-in-laws, Kathy, Norma, Edith, and Susan Ramsey, along with many nieces and nephews.
Services will be on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at Grace Episcopal Church, 4900 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware at 11 am. Visitation starts at 10am. The family invites you to a reception after the funeral in the parish hall of the church for remembrance and fellowship.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Delaware Hospice
