CHESTERVILLE — Margaret McCune Plantz, 81, of Chesterville unexpectedly went to be with the Lord on Tuesday evening, March 11, 2008, at her residence.

On April 30, 1926, she was born near Cardington, the daughter of the late Lawrence “Lloyd” and Helen “Mae” (Brown) Sipe. Margaret graduated from Chesterville High School in the class of 1945, and earned a degree in nursing from the Mansfield General School of Nursing in 1948.

Shortly following the completion of her nursing school, Margaret married Richard McCune, on Sept. 4, 1948, whom she met during her training at Mansfield General Hospital. Together they raised three loving daughters, and as a family enjoyed their yearly trip to Skookum Lake, Ontario, to fish in the summer. He preceded her in death on Jan. 1, 1986.

Upon her father’s farm, where she was raised, she and Richard built a home in 1963. Though she enjoyed traveling, to her there was no place like home and she always made it clear, “You can’t take me from my home place.” For over 37 years, Margaret served the community as a registered nurse in maternity department at the Morrow County Hospital until her retirement in 1982. During those years, she had no doubt that delivering new life was “her calling,” in the place she considered “the only happy place in the hospital.”

A few years after her retirement, Margaret fell for Harold Plantz, whom she would marry on Oct. 6, 1987. She enjoyed traveling with him while he drove truck throughout the United States. He preceded her in death on Aug. 10, 2003.

A woman of faith, she was a member of the Christ The King Community Church in Fredericktown, and also attended the River of Life Fellowship Church in Mount Vernon.

With a knack for cooking, Margaret was famous within her family circle for her many homemade fixings from scratch, most notably her coleslaw that she was required to bring to all family gatherings. An “amazingly hard worker,” she managed to work full time at the hospital, have dinner ready every night at 6 p.m. for her husband and children, and keep her yard and garden looking immaculate despite it being several acres large. In her garden, she raised all types of vegetables and flowers, but she was most proud of her sweet corn which to this day is the best she and her family have ever tasted.

With the strongest of wills and a determined spirit, Margaret refused to be told “no.” She would still travel by herself to see her family, and would even refuse to let someone else roto-till for her.

She will be dearly missed by her three daughters, Linda (Jim) Johnson of Mount Gilead, Sheila (fiancé, John Newcomb) Gilt of Waldorf, Md., and Rena (Tim Jones) Waddill of Kearney, Mo.; 12 grandchildren, Richard (Linh) Barnett, Diane (Matthew) Visconti, Michael (fiancé, Nichole Braun) McCune, Cathleen “Chris” (Jenny Huff) Allen, Rebecca (Josh) Guerre, Matthew Gilt, Andrew (Sarah) Gilt, Elisabeth Gilt, Kendra, Brandon and Devon Waddill; and 12 great-grandchildren with one more on the way.

In addition to her parents and husbands, Margaret was preceded in death by her grandson, Ryan Roper; and a sister, Esther Simpson.

Her family will greet friends on Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Christ The King Community Church, 15598 McClelland Road (on Ohio 95 East), Fredericktown, where services celebrating her life will follow immediately at 11 a.m. with Pastor Lucian Baker officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Chesterville. Pallbearers serving will be Michael McCune, Matthew Gilt, Andrew Gilt, Brandon Waddill, Devon Waddill and Matthew Visconti.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ The King Community Church, 15598 McClelland Road, Fredericktown, OH 43019. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.