Margaret Cadwallader

On July 22, 2018, two beautiful angels escorted Margaret Cadwallader to the Kingdom of God, age 84. Born to Louis and Julia Melendez in Rexburg, Idaho.

Margaret grew up in a family of 10 children. She attended Madison High School and graduated in 1952.

Margaret had an active and joyous life, one filled with many adventures. After graduating from high school, she joined the USAF and served our country proudly. After the service, Margaret decided to embark in a career in education and set her sights on attending Central Washington College where she received her bachelor of arts in education. Shortly afterwards she began her teaching career in Kent Washington where she taught elementary education and physical education. Margaret loved teaching but was also involved in many extra activities, community sports and coaching young girls; she remained active and interested in supporting young girls and women throughout her life.

In 1966 she married Royal Cadwallader and began a long marriage of over 52 years, they raised three children, Michelle, Lisa and Bill. 

In 1972 Margaret moved to Spokane, Washington, where she and Royal started a busy life with their family. Her family was actively involved in the local school district and Margaret insisted her children become involved in after school sports. Church was important to Margaret. She and her family attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church and participated in many volunteer opportunities and service. During her life in Spokane many employment opportunities opened up for her, including teaching, the hospitality business, and caretaking. Margaret enjoyed gardening, cooking and helping others. She loved hosting family gatherings at her home, and she hosted many parties at her home for family and friends. Her birthday was on New Year’s Eve; she always had a party to celebrate her special day! Margaret loved being around family and enjoyed traveling with Royal to visit them. She continued this traveling throughout her life and recently attended her grandson’s wedding in Kenai, Alaska.

Margaret and Royal were in charge of the dances at the Spokane Valley Senior Center for 7 years. Margaret also coordinated the Senior Center’s Wii Bowling team, where she organized the Wii Bowling games and tournaments. Margaret loved being in charge of anything and was a good leader. She and Royal hosted neighborhood block parties for years up until last August.  Margaret was part of a pinochle group which met for 10 years, rotating at each woman’s house. She hosted a game for the last time in March.

While Margaret was recently in Alaska for her grandson’s wedding, she and her family did not know of her illness, AML Leukemia, which was discovered shortly after she returned home. Margaret spent nine days in Deaconess Hospital. The oncology nurses and doctors gave her exceptional care, although she had an aggressive cancer. On her last day of life, she was moved to the downtown Hospice House where she was treated in a special way, visited by her family and tucked into bed. She passed peacefully early Sunday morning. Margaret was a wonderful, loving, kind woman to many people; she will be greatly missed. Family is thankful that Margaret now is in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Details may be found at www.caringbridge.org. Type Margaret Cadwallader in the search bar.

Margaret is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Louis Melendez (Lois) and David Melendez (Ruth), and four sisters, Connie Wetzel (Jess), Julie Casillas (Joe), Carmen Cannon (Jim), and Louise Guynes (John). She is survived by her brother, Robert Melendez (Lorraine), sisters, Josephine Labrum (Terry), and Anne Smart (David Robinson), her husband of 52 years, Royal Cadwallader, her daughters, Michelle Cotton (Gene) and Lisa Franzmann (Karl); son, Bill Cadwallader (Tukta); her five grandchildren Maria Cone (Derek), Jessicca Walsh, Katherine Franzmann, Jacob Franzmann (Kara), and Nathan Cadwallader; and her four great-grandchildren, Riley and Brian “Tripp” Walsh, Ladon and Brooklyn Cone.  She is also survived by many nephews and nieces.

Her funeral will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 503 N. Walnut Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99214 on Saturday, August 4 at 10:00 am. A reception will follow immediately.  Viewings will be held August 3rd at Hennessey Valley Funeral Home & Crematory from 4 – 8pm, 1315 N. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99206, and August 4th from 9:30 – 10:00am at St. John Vianney Catholic Church.