Margaret Miles - Obituary

ILES, MARGARET BELL NORTON, 88, died peacefully at home in Annapolis, MD, on April 24, 2012. Mrs. Miles was the beloved wife of William Ward Miles and loving mother of Margo Michalak and Mignon Percival; daughter of the late Raymond H. Norton and Margaret Bell Norton; and, sister of the late Howard R. Norton II, and Raymond H. Norton, Jr. She is also the loving grandmother of Mark Michalak, Paul Michalak, Drew Percival, and Sara Percival. Mrs. Miles was born on September 8, 1923, in Washington, D.C. As a third generation Washingtonian, she spent her early childhood there and attended Julius West Elementary School, Macfarland Junior High School, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in February 1940. She was a graduate of George Washington University from the College of Education in 1944. While at the University, she was a member of Chi Omega social sorority and a member of the Pi Lambda Theta honorary sorority. She later pursued graduate work from the University of Maryland, Towson University, and Western Maryland College. Mrs. Miles began her teaching career in the Washington, D.C., public schools at Paul Junior High School and Langley Junior High School. She then began teaching at George Washington University in the Spanish department. In 1945, she moved with her family to Potomac, MD, where the family had spent many summers at their second home, Western Breeze Farm, on Norton Road. December 19, 1946, she was married to William Ward Miles, a native of Darnestown, MD, in the Rockville Methodist Church. They lived for 34 years in Damascus, MD. Mrs. Miles taught English, French, and Spanish at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD, as well as being senior adviser until 1951. After their two daughters were enrolled in school, Mrs. Miles returned to the teaching field. Following several years teaching third grade in Damascus Elementary School, she became a reading specialist in the Montgomery County Schools. After retirement from teaching in 1979, Mrs. Miles and her husband moved to the Annapolis, MD, area on the Severn River where they enjoyed boating and many water-related activities. In 1988, they moved to an adult community, Heritage Harbour, in Annapolis. Darnestown Presbyterian Church was her place of worship. She was very active in the Damascus Methodist Church when she lived in that area and was president of the Wesleyan Service Guild, a member of the Official Board, Chairman of the Building Finance Committee, and Sunday School teacher. Mrs. Miles was an active member of the Republican Women’s Club of Anne Arundel County, MD, and enjoyed reading, traveling, and gardening. Family and friends may visit at the Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD, from 4:00 - 5:30pm, Friday, April 27, or at the Darnestown Presbyterian Church, 15120 Turkey Foot Rd., Darnestown, MD, on Saturday, April 28, from 12:30 -1:00pm, with a funeral service to follow at 1:00pm. If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Darnestown Presbyterian Church or Hospice of the Chesapeake.