Margery Antoinette Stommel (Theobald)

Margery Antoinette Stommel, 91, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2014, in Sonoma, surrounded by loving family.

Margery was born July 31, 1922, to A.J. and Merle Theobald in Hastings, Neb., where she grew up the youngest of three girls. After graduating from high school and college in Hastings, she moved to San Anselmo, where she studied music at a local seminary.

In San Anselmo, she met Bob Stommel, and on June 29, 1947, they embarked on their 51-year marriage together. ??Margery worked first as an elementary school teacher and then as a stay-at-home mom to three children. The family lived in Marin County for many years before settling in Napa in 1970, where Margery and Bob lived until retirement in 1988.

Then they took off on a new adventure, traveling the West in their fifth-wheel trailer for 10 years, making new friends and enjoying the beauty of the land. ??Though her travels took her far and wide, some things were always constant in Margery’s life: singing in church choirs, reading the Bible and many other books, and keeping her mind sharp with crossword puzzles.

For the last six years, Margery lived in Sonoma, very near to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who brought her immense joy. She followed and loved the Lord Jesus Christ and was most recently a member of Faith Lutheran Church.

Margery was preceded in death by her parents; twin sisters, Jean Sall and Ruth McKelvie; husband, Bob Stommel; and son, Robert Stommel.

She is survived by her children, Dona Sanchez (Carl) and Gene Stommel; grandchildren, Kimberly Sanchez, Randi Mellus (Ryan), Cristina McMains (Britt), Jena Jones (Josh); great-grandchildren, Ryan, Sophia, Jaxon and Robert; and many nieces and nephews.

A service honoring Margery’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at Faith Lutheran Church in Sonoma.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Margery’s name to Faith Lutheran Church.

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