Margaret Ruth Ward Jenks

Margaret Ruth Ward Jenks, 92, of Granville, New York, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at Autumn House East in York, Pennsylvania.

Margaret Ruth Jenks, known to her many friends as Peggy, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on July 24, 1929, to Azuba Ruth (Seaver) and Frank Garrett Ward and spent her childhood in Chicago, Illinois.

She graduated from Technical High School in Springfield and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in home economics specializing in dietetics from Drexel University in Philadelphia in 1951. That same year she married Robert (Bob) Charles Jenks.

During her lifetime Peggy would end up living in eight different U.S. states and traveling to all 50. She and Bob also traveled abroad, visiting many European countries.

Peggy enjoyed spending time with family and friends at Langholm, the family’s cottage on Lake St. Catherine in Wells, Vermont, where she’d been summering since she was a child. She especially loved going swimming.

In 1995, she purchased her Granville family home built by her great-grandfather where she lived until August 2021. Due to her failing health she moved to York, Pennsylvania, in August 2021.

Peggy had been a family genealogist since 1964 and a cemetery transcriber since 1978. She published award-winning books listing all the cemetery inscriptions of the 27 towns in Rutland County, Vermont, and of Granville, Washington County, New York . . . more than 225 cemeteries in all. She also researched the many carvers of Rutland County stones.

Peggy is survived by her four loving children Susan, Cathy (Richard), Joan (Robert) and Robert (Laura); six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; her sister Georgiana; niece Cynthia; nephew Neal; and many beloved cousins and friends.

A memorial service and burial will be held in Granville at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Margaret’s name to the Vermont Old Cemetery Association for the repair of Rutland County gravestones. Checks should be made out to VOCA or Vermont Old Cemetery Association and sent to VOCA c/o Barry Trutor, 31 Matthew Ave., Burlington, VT 05408.