Margaret Wagener

Margaret (Walton) Wagener, 90, of Liberty Center, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at her home. 

Margaret was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania on May 12, 1934, daughter of the late Clara Velma (Terry) and Frank Gerald Walton. She was raised in the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio. 

Margaret was the fourth of five children, with three sisters and one brother. She often recounted fond memories of them during their childhood and into their adult lives. She had a wonderful, witty sense of humor that she maintained throughout her life.

Margaret attended Mt. Vernon Seventh-day Adventist Academy in Mt. Vernon, Ohio during her high school years. There she met and married her high school sweetheart, Raymond Sperling, in 1952. They shared many wonderful years together until his early passing in 1966.

As a strong and compassionate mother, Margaret raised five children with love and devotion. She was a fiercely loyal mother, grandmother and friend who always had a patient and kind listening ear. When asked, she was happy to offer sound counsel, which was grounded in her lifelong faith and love for her heavenly Savior. She was a peacemaker in many ways, always wanting the best for those she loved. She found immense joy in her life by creating happiness for others.

She was a beloved figure in her community, known for her steadfast compassion, loyalty and down-to-earth demeanor. Margaret worked tirelessly from 1972 to 2014 for Liberty Center Schools, first, as a school bus driver and later in the school cafeteria. She continued to work almost to her 80th birthday! She was very active in the Seventh-day Adventist church her entire life, often holding several offices at the same time. She learned to play the piano as a child which earned her a lifelong title of church pianist. Throughout her life she enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening and riding her John Deere lawn mower. Celebrating her 90th birthday last May will always be one of our most cherished memories.

She will be forever missed by her children, Dale Sperling, Bonnie (Steve) Timbrook, Kerry Sperling and Christina Sperling; 11 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren, several great, great grandchildren; her friends and church family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Sperling; son Benny Sperling; siblings Marie Rhoads, Myrna Bilicic, Marian Landon and Jerry Walton.

A memorial service will be held on March 2, 2025 at 1 PM with visitation from 11- 1 PM at the Swanton Seventh-day Adventist Church, 204 W. Airport Hwy, Swanton, Ohio 43558.

She will be laid to rest next to the love of her life, Raymond Sperling in Mound View Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Ohio at a later date. 

Memorials may be made in her memory to the Swanton Seventh-day Adventist Church, 204 W. Airport Hwy, Swanton, Ohio 43558.

Fond memories may be shared at dooleyfuneralhome.com.