Margaret Ann Lininger Wurman lived a glorious life full of love, family and friends. Born in Oklahoma City, OK, to Alfred and Ruth Lininger on June 18, 1932, she almost celebrated her 90th birthday this year! Margaret passed peacefully on April 18, 2022 in her home with her family nearby.
Margaret’s only sibling, Elaine Anderson, grew up as her best friend. They often double dated with their future husbands. Margaret met her “Jimbo” James Wade Wurman at Northeast High School when he crashed her Halloween party to meet the girl of his dreams. They married on April 11, 1952 while she finished her nursing degree at Oklahoma University. Their futures changed quickly, when Jim began his military career with the US Army. With Margaret by his side and five children in tow, their family traveled the world choosing adventure as their compass. The Ford station wagon ferried them to National and State parks, beaches and mountains, but always returned to Oklahoma for hot summer visits with the grandparents and cousins. Their children Deborah Campbell, Cynthia Hardin, Angela Maddix, James Wurman Jr., and Michael Wurman journeyed with them to live across both oceans in Germany and the Philippines, making homes in seven states.
Jim and Margaret finished his Army career with the rank of Major General knowing he could not have done any of this without her. She was truly the ultimate Army wife and the best neighbor and mother to us all. They lived in 16 different cities before retiring to Gulf Shores, AL in 1991. Each place they lived, quickly became their new home. Their children grew to appreciate their nomadic life and the wealth of experiences.
In Gulf Shores, they were active members of Gulf Shores United Methodist Church. Many friends remain there, and they will miss her very much. Every year Margaret and Jim hosted family reunions at the beach with too many children and cousins to count! It was a highlight for everyone to vacation with them.
When Jim died in 2001, Margaret had a beach full of friends to help her adjust to her new solitary life. Sara, Patti and Wanda were just a few names of friends she held dear. In 2013, Margaret came to live in Asheville, NC to be near her children Angela and Michael. They created a three-home family compound to always have her near. She loved her new mountain home and adored the friends she made when walking every day at 3 p.m. to greet neighbors, dogs and the occasional bear!
The Kenilworth neighborhood welcomed her to their community dinners, parades and dog shows. She loved seeing happy familiar faces. Her favorite activity was a drive for an ice cream cone or a tasty hamburger. Margaret also volunteered at Loving Food Resources for several years, packing food boxes for delivery each week.
Although the last few years have been challenging, with her memory loss chipping away at her daily recollections, she could still reminisce about her remarkable life and share a smile that lit our hearts. Her son Michael, wife Rhianna and their sweet pup Radley were her joys. They, along with her daughter Angela, husband Robert, daughter Olivia and their dog Mabel cared for her daily. So many breakfasts were made, dinners shared, puzzles completed and disco dancing for PT. Her life was very, very good.
In her memory, send a card to an older friend or relative, eat more chocolate and enjoy the birds when they nest on your porch.
Thank you to all the great friends and dogs of Ravenna and Dunkirk Streets. Thank you to Dr. Johnson of MemoryCare. Thank you to Dr. Weaver of CIM for your humor and care.
Margaret is survived by her four children, nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Margaret will join her husband Jim at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL, with a private celebration of their lives.
