Margaret Robarge Obituary

Margaret E. "Margie" (Babcock) Robarge

Apr 6, 1930 - Feb 26, 2024

North Canton

Margaret E. "Margie" (Babcock) Robarge died Monday, Feb. 26, 2024.

Margie was born April 6, 1930, in Toledo, the daughter of Ward and Alberta (Miller) Babcock.

She graduated from Scott High School in 1949 and elected as the Spring Sports Queen in her senior year. Upon graduation, Margie served as the executive secretary for United Moving and Storage Company until her marriage to Haldon on June 9, 1956, at St. James Lutheran Church, Toledo.

She was employed as a secretary for American Airlines at Columbus and by Dr. Sofanic, an Eye, Ear, and nose specialist, as his secretary and assistant at Canton. Margie was also employed as a sale associate for J.C. Penney's and as receptionist and secretary for 14 physicians at Akron General Medical Center.

Her greatest treasure in life was her family. Margie had a special relationship with all her grandchildren. She enjoyed vacationing with them, taking them to the Great Darke County Fair, Disney Land, Niagara Falls, and traveling to numerous other places and activities.

Margie thoroughly enjoyed watching her four grandsons wrestle for Hoover High School. She was a big part of their lives. Margie never missed a wrestling match, starting in grade school, and traveling to Ohio High School state wrestling championship matches. She was an avid cheerleader for them.

Finally retiring in 2001 and moving to Uniontown, Margie developed an extremely complicated heart condition that needed surgery. At age 84, she was considered a high risk for surgery. The difficulty was to find a heart surgeon willing to perform the needed surgery. Jose Navia, a heart surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, was willing to do high risk heart surgeries. Margie recovered fully and enjoyed the Silver Sneakers which helped keep her healthy and able to live an active life for the next nine years.

At her husband's 90th birthday celebration Jan. 9, 2024, Margie was taken to the Summa emergency and transferred to Summa Hospital and diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia.

She returned home and was bedfast, the balance of her life on earth. However, Margie did not lose her battle with cancer. Time simply ran out. She was a fighter and SHE ended her fight with cancer by simply going to sleep Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, surrounded by her family. Margie left her life on earth and joined her Savior, Jesus, in Heaven. She had a deep and unwavering faith in her Lord Jesus, a strong spirit, and profound sense of humor.

Margie is survived by her husband of 68 years, Hal; two sons, John and Jim (Lisa) Robarge, both of the Canton area; daughter, Pam (Robarge) Burns and fiancé, Dave Kinion of Estero, Florida; four grandsons and their spouses, Ryan (Haley) Burns, Nathan (Collette) Burns, Conner (friend Kenzei), and Adam Burns (friend Kendall), all of the Canton area; stepgranddaughter, Vanessa Valentich of the Canton area; great-granddaughter, Cora Elizabeth Burns of the Canton area; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Mayer (Gary) of Fredericksburg, Texas, and Tracy Lustic; brother-in-law, Carl, "Ike" Eisenhauer of Sylvania; and Barabara Chiappeta, Pattie Hughs, Jim and Jeff Mayer, Jennifer Feucht, Carl Eisenhauer, Cyndy Homan, Linda Curtis, Becky Boros,

Shelly Thielen, Susie Ballard, and numerous other great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, James and Robert; brother-in-law, Paul Robarge and his wife Diane; granddaughter, Tara Marie; daughter in-law, Pattie Valentich; sister-in-law, Barbara Eisenhauer; and nephews, David Babcock and Jeff Boros.

If you wanted to find Margie in the morning, you could find her at McDonald's with her husband, eating a sausage biscuit and drinking a diet coke for breakfast. Margie had an infectious laugh which caused others to laugh with her. Her grandsons loved to tease her just to make and hear her laugh. Margie never really grew old and had a heart of gold.

Her family acknowledges and deeply appreciates the support given the family, the prayers offered for Margie from many friends and even people we do not know, the support of our church family, and the excellent care given by the health care professionals at Cleveland Clinic, Summa Hospital, and Aultman Hospice. We appreciate especially our daughter, Pam, who was the 24/7 nurse during the final weeks of her life. The care and countless prayers offered by so many gave us several more years to enjoy her laughter and company.

There was an "Angel Among Us" who is now laughing and cooking up a storm in Heaven. An angel has left this earth a sadder place. But, she has also filled us with many precious and happy memories.

Margie's celebration of life will be 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church, 349 Lindy Lane Ave. NW, North Canton, Ohio, with Bishop of the Southern Ohio Synod of the ELCA, Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt, presiding. Visitation with family will be 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the church. The family invites you to join them following the service to share memories and friendships, relax and enjoy some excellent nourishment in the fellowship hall of Zion Lutheran Church.

Margie's care has been entrusted to Mark R. Vrabel Funeral Home, North Canton, 330-452-4041.

Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at [email protected].