Margaret Louise Ehler, devoted wife, mother

Margaret Louise Ehler of Annapolis, Md., passed away of natural causes Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at home with her devoted husband, loved ones, and beloved cats by her side. She was just shy of her 87th birthday.

Born in Mt. Vernon, Mo., to Milan and Pauline Berry, Margaret spent her early and adolescent years raised on a dairy farm with her three older brothers, Gilbert, Roger and Bryan Berry.

As a 4H member, Margaret entered the American Dairy Association’s pageant for dairy farmers’ daughters in 1955. She won the title of Missouri Maid of Milk and received a college scholarship. She attended the University of Missouri from 1955-59, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics.  

Set up on a blind date, she met Charles Wayne Ehler, a fellow Mizzou student and Naval ROTC member. They married after graduation June 13, 1959, and started their military life. Their assignments took them to Charleston, S.C., Virginia Beach, Va., Monterey, Calif., then finally to Annapolis, Md., to the USNA in 1967.

Margaret was the beloved bookkeeper/assistant director at the Naval Academy Primary School from 1970 until her retirement in 2006. After retirement, she spent her time between Annapolis, Md., and Lewes, where she spent countless hours restoring her historic 1800s Metcalfe House. As a talented seamstress, she also made costumes for high school plays as well as several wedding gowns, including her daughter’s.

Margaret is survived by her husband, C. Wayne Ehler of Annapolis, Md.; brother, Bryan Berry of Lewisburg, Pa.; daughter, Rebecca (Steve) Hammond of Annapolis; son, Paul Ehler of Chesapeake Beach, Md; daughter-in-law, Melissa Truelove; and five grandchildren, Michael, Cam, Morgan, Sarah and Andrew.  She was preceded in death by her son, Tim.

A memorial will be scheduled at a later time.