Margaret H. Powell

Madison - Margaret H. Powell, born in Lewes, Delaware, February 2, 1928; daughter of Florence L. & Albert O. Humphreys, died on Tuesday, May 24 at the University Hospital in Madison.

A child of the Great Depression, Margaret's family was obliged to move often while Albert, an orchard expert, struggled to find work. Despite these challenges, Margaret's parents made sure their children had books and got a good education --helping inspire Margaret's lifelong passion for intellectual pursuits. After graduating from Conrad High School in Newark (class of 1946), Margaret attended the University of Delaware, unusual for a woman at the time, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English (class of 1950). For 1949 and 1950 she edited The Blue Hen, the university yearbook. Margaret also met Hugh N. Powell, a Ph.D candidate in engineering from Birmingham, Alabama, and they married in 1950.

Settling in Cincinnati, the young couple had a son Maury (d. 1967), followed by son Hugh. Later the family moved to Ithaca, New York, where son Jonathan was born. In 1963 the family moved to Madison, where Hugh Sr. took a teaching position in the Engineering Department. Previously, Margaret and Hugh made several trips to Europe for sightseeing and hiking, a shared love. For Hugh's sabbatical, he, Margaret, sons Hugh and Jonathan lived near Paris for a year, with travel around Europe. This experience inspired their children, who have since lived and traveled overseas.

Divorced in 1967, Margaret and son Jon lived in New England for several years where Margaret worked for Wesleyan University. Jon returned to Madison in 1971, and Margaret in 1972. Working first at Wert's Pharmacy (now Neuhauser), Margaret also helped establish Group Health Cooperative. Later employed by the Department of Public Instruction, she then did editing at the Wisconsin Center for Educational Research. Margaret also edited In Business magazine, and wrote a history of the Wisconsin Petroleum Association. Margaret's personal writing often treated women through the ages, captured in poems. Her lifelong interest in women's issues reflected by her involvement with A Room of One's Own, Lysistrada and the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. Margaret traveled extensively, having many adventures, though her trips were scholarly in nature, studying the cave paintings of Lascaux, Altamra and other European art forms.

Margaret is survived by a sister, Dr. Barbara Humphreys, and a brother, John Humphreys, of Newark, Delaware; son Hugh A. Powell of Madison, and son Jonathan of the D.C. area. A small memorial service is being planned. Contact Hugh Powell at hapowell@comcast.net for information.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in Margaret's name payable to the UW Foundation-Gender and Women's Studies
Account (1254901), US Bank Lockbox 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278. Please note ""Margaret H. Powell Memorial"" in the check memo line.
To donate directly on line go to http://supportuw.org/givingand and use the fund account number listed above.