FALMOUTH — Margaret Henson Singer, 95, died May 11 at her Falmouth home in the company of family 11 weeks after the death of her husband of 63 years, Richard Bunker “Dick” Singer.

On Jan. 27, 1915, she was born in Pueblo, Colo., to Paul Palmer Henson and Theda Parker Henson.

After her father completed medical school, the family moved to Cape Cod, Mass., where she spent her childhood becoming an avid sailor. She enjoyed racing her Wianno Senior, “Wiki Wiki,” and won many racing trophies.

In 1933, she graduated from Bradford Junior College and attended Smith College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1937. Two years later she received her master’s degree in biology from Wellesley College. After earning her Ph.D. in biology from New York University in 1942, she enlisted as a WAVE in the U.S. Naval Reserve and conducted research on aviation medicine.

While stationed at the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center in Bethesda, Md., she met her future husband Dick, a flight surgeon in the U.S. Naval Reserve. They were married in Hyannis, Mass., on Feb. 22, 1947, and raised their family of three children in Cohasset, Mass.

In 1992 they retired to the OceanView Retirement Community in Falmouth.
 
A skilled weaver, her work was seen by loved ones as a metaphor for her role as mother, grandmother and matriarch. She worked tirelessly throughout her life, not only to give her children every opportunity for education and enrichment, but also to impart her values of hard work, resourcefulness, respect, service to one’s community and faith.

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An extremely accomplished woman with many creative pursuits, she remained humble, rarely referring to any of her achievements and never acknowledging any sacrifices on her part. She was an inspiration to many.

Friends and family were awed by the enduring strength of the love, respect and tenderness that she and her husband shared for more than six decades. Although she missed him terribly after his death, she remained active, participating in her weekly swimming classes, weaving and had made plans to learn how to use e-mail this summer.

Surviving are three children who will deeply miss her, Elizabeth Maule Estey and Larry of Stonington, Permelia Sears and David of Dunstable, Mass., and Richard H. Singer and Etsuko of Hoffman Estates, Ill.; four granddaughters, Catherine Maule and Dave McKechnie, of Toronto, Ontario, Patia Maule and Ian Ramsey of Bowdoin, Rebecca Sears of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Ann Singer, of Hoffman Estates, Ill.; one great-granddaughter, Evelyn McKechnie, of Toronto, Ontario; and her sister, Theda Henson Braddock, of Orleans, Mass.

A memorial service celebrating her life was held on May 22 at St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church in Falmouth.

Memorial contributions may be made to the OceanView Residents’ Assistance Fund, 20 Blueberry Lane, Falmouth, ME 04105-1856.

Arrangements are by Independent Death Care, 660 Brighton Ave. Portland.

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