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Obituary: Margaret Whittemore McCaleb

A reception to honor the life of former language teacher and librarian Margaret McCaleb of Portola Valley is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Ladera Community Church at 3300 Alpine Road in Ladera.

Ms. McCaleb died Sept. 7 at age 88.

Family and friends are invited to the celebration of her life, which began in Niota, Illinois, a village on the banks of the Mississippi River, where she was one of six children.

She was class valedictorian in high school and won a scholarship to Western Illinois University, where she received a bachelor's degree in education.

She went on to teach English and Latin in Midwest high schools and became a librarian at the University of Wisconsin after meeting the post-doctoral student in chemistry who would become her husband, Kirtland McCaleb.

The couple moved to Minneapolis, had two children, and later moved to Oakland and then, in 1965, to Portola Valley, where she joined the Ladera church and found part-time work as a secretary in the chemistry department at Stanford University.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years; her sons Brian of Orange, California, and Richard of Boulder Creek; her sister Phyllis Nixon of Dallas City, Illinois; and two grandchildren.

The family prefers memorial donations to the Ladera Community Church Scholarship Fund at 3300 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, CA, 94028; or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at 1311 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 310, White Plains, NY, 10605.

Posted by Karl Kuhlmann, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Sep 14, 2011 at 9:58 pm

The Ladera Community Church Scholarship Ministry Team is delighted and greatfull that Marge McCaleb's family has chosen the Scholarship Fund as a way to honor Marge. This program has provided two year scholarships at local community colleges to 33 students since 1999. With the recent increases in fees, this service is even more important. Thank you.

Posted by Austen Heydon, a resident of the Portola Valley: Ladera neighborhood, on Sep 16, 2011 at 3:18 pm

The Ladera Community Church Scholarship Ministry Team is delighted and grateful that Marge McCaleb's family has chosen the Scholarship Fund as a way to honor Marge. This program has provided two year scholarships at local community colleges to 33 students since 1999. With the recent increases in fees, this service is even more important.

Contact information is at www.ladera.org

Thank you.

Posted by LE NGUYEN XUAN DIEN, a resident of another community, on Sep 22, 2011 at 2:40 am

Extending my deepest sympathy on the loss of your mother and praying that your faith will give you strength in this sad time. I hope your family sooner overcome from this loss.

Regards

Xuan Dien

Posted by Chi Tran, a resident of another community, on Sep 22, 2011 at 2:47 am

Dear chu Richard,

These brief words cannot begin to express the sadness we feel on your mom's passing. She was a wonderful lady. Please accept our deepest sympathy.

Kind regards,

Chi