Margaret Francis Chisolm

Margaret Francis Chisolm nee Browning, loving wife and mother passed away Friday, August 15, 2009 in El Paso, TX. Margaret was born in Mertens, TX February 13, 1926 the youngest of four children of the union of Lloyd Lee Browning and Ola Wollard. She attended elementary and High School in Dallas TX and graduated with honors from Forest Avenue High School in 1943. She married her childhood sweetheart and love of her life Robert E. Chisolm on February 14, 1946 thus becoming his perpetual valentine. Of this union a daughter, her pride and joy, Cheryl Dawn was born. As a military wife Margaret became a world traveler visiting and living in many of the countries in Europe and in Okinawa, Japan and Thailand. She captured the hearts of many of those with whom she had contact by immersing herself in the culture and traditions of the host country and learning their language. She was the first President of the 508th PIR, NCOs’ Wives club in Frankfort, Germany in 1946. She served as Chairwoman of the American Red Cross Volunteers Blood Bank at Ft.Jackson, SC; Chairwoman of Red Cross Volunteers at the VA Hospital in Dallas, TX; Co-Chair of Red Cross Volunteers in Bangkok, Thailand and Chairwoman of Red Cross Volunteers at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. She received many honors from the American Red Cross for her many years as a volunteer. During the Vietnam conflict, she spent time in country in Da Nang one of the few military dependents to do so. While stationed at Ft. Leavenworth Margaret was co-owner and publisher of the Shop Talk, which was an on post publication of general information for the military. In her more than twenty-four years as an Army Wife and mother she epitomized, in all respects, what one would expect of a military wife. During the many absences of Robert, she carried on as head of the family, raising her daughter, and taking care of all other family business in an outstanding manner. As those in the military are aware, one of the greatest assets our country has is the military wife and Margaret was certainly such a treasure. After military retirement, Margaret & Robert owned and operated several ranch properties in East Texas and New Mexico. Once again, she showed her ability to quickly adjust to a new life style and became an outstanding ranchers’ wife. In 1974, she accompanied Robert on their final move and settled in El Paso, TX. Margaret quickly immersed herself in the newly formed business, J-Tex Inc. and served as a Director and Secretary/Treasurer of the corporation. On October 3, 1984 in a Proclamation by Mark White, Governor of Texas she was commissioned a Yellow Rose of Texas. Until her illnesses precluded her from doing so Margaret remained very active in veterans organizations’ with most of her time devoted to the Benavidez-Patterson All Airborne Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division Association. The Chapter’s Scholarship Fund was a major recipient of her generosity. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Robert & Wallace Browning and her sister Allene Hunt nee Browning. She is survived by her husband of sixty three years, LTC Robert E. Chisolm (Ret), Anthony, NM, her daughter Dawn Doyle (Richard), Santa Teresa, NM, her niece Sandra Douglas, Dallas, TX, nephew Don Hunt (Vivian) Midlothian, TX and her brother-in-law Tom Chisolm (Emily), Texas City, TX. She will always be remembered for her beautiful, captivating smile, her dimples, flashing green eyes and bubbling personality and most of all her care and concern for those less fortunate than she. In lieu of flowers memorial contribution may be made to the B-P Chapter Scholarship Fund, 2608 Ft. Blvd., El Paso, TX 79930-2116. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, August 24, 2009 at Sunset Funeral Homes-West. Graveside services will be held at 9:00 am, Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Inurnment will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-West. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net