Margaret Ensley

Margaret R. Ensley

Candler – Margaret Rose Ensley, 97, passed away on Friday, January 4, 2019 at Pisgah Manor Health Care Center.

She was the daughter of the late Dock Candler and Maggie Morgan Ensley and the granddaughter of the late Jeptha Wilson and Laura Robinson Morgan and the late James J. and Ellen Snyder Ensley.

Margaret was a graduate of Lee H. Edwards High School and Biltmore College in Asheville.  She was past president of Biltmore College Alumni Association from 1941 – 1945 and Asheville Business and Professional Women’s Club, a charter member of WNC Chapter, American Guild of Organist, member of the Asheville Music Club and charter member of Beta Tau Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.  She was a former cantorial soloist and director of music at Congregation Beth Ha Tephila in Asheville for 20 years, former director of music at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for ten years, former contralto soloist at First Baptist Church, All Soul’s Episcopal Church, Central United Methodist Church and Trinity Episcopal Church all of Asheville.  She was former Asheville Music Club Chairman of Music for Programs at US Veterans Hospital at Oteen and USO girl and performer during World War II in Asheville.

She was employed during World War II as laboratory supervisor for Sealtest Southern Dairies in Asheville, the first woman in Asheville to replace a man going into military service and the first woman hired by Southern Dairies to work in their processing plant.  She was employed as cosmetic buyer/consultant by Bon Marche, Winners and Belk Department Stores and retired from Belk’s in 1994.  She was part time demo team at Sam’s Club for two years.  She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Daughters of the King and Chairman, Seniors-At-Trinity in Asheville.

Margaret traveled extensively from 1986 – 2000 making ten pilgrimages to the Holy Lands, Middle Eastern countries of Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Sinai, and European countries of Italy, Greece, Netherlands, and Germany as a tour host with the late Reverend Dr. Billy Cline and Bob Terrell.  In her travels, she collected many video cassettes, books, slides, photos and artifacts.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Locust Field Cemetery with The Reverend David Henson and Reverend Peggy Buchanan officiating.  The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. prior to the service at Wells Funeral Home of Canton.

The family wishes to acknowledge the exceptional care provided by the staff of Pisgah Manor Health Care Center.

The care of Mrs. Ensley has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com