Margaret Anne Love Painter

PHOENIX, NY – Margaret Anne Love Painter, 101, went to be with her Lord on June 6, 2026.  She passed away peacefully at The Manor at Seneca Hill nursing home with her grandson Jacob holding her hand and with her friends and relatives across America praying for her restful release.

Margaret was born July 31, 1924, at Oak Hill, West Virginia to parents Earl Clinton Love and Winona Mae Hall. She married Rupert Q. Painter on December 31, 1945, at Catlettsburg, Kentucky. Their forever union produced three children, Robert James, Thomas Bedford, and Pamela Love.

Margaret lived a long and wonderful life with Rupert and later with her children. As a skilled typist and secretary, she worked many jobs throughout her career.  Most notable was as a secretary for army generals inside the Pentagon in Arlington Virginia while the building was under construction in the 1940s. Her long journey found her living at various times in Washington DC, Arlington Virginia, Oak Hill West Virginia, and Fort Myers Florida.  She also worked at a munitions factory during the war effort earning the title of a “Rosie.”  During her and Rupert’s retirement years they travelled, pulling a mobile home, and often stayed for long periods parked in the backyard of their children’s and relatives’ homes.  Margaret’s passion was reading, crafting, and most of all, investigating her family’s genealogy where she made numerous discoveries and expanded the family historical record.  Her research efforts even resulted in a long road trip across America to discover and document her grandfather’s grave and meet with his second family in Washington state. She made long-lasting friendships wherever she went and often was called “Maggie” and later as “The Great Gray!”

Margaret was a loving and dutiful mother, neighbor, and friend. As a devout Christian, she attended and supported a local church wherever she was living at the time.  Sunday mornings were held sacred in her lifestyle.  She gave generously, in addition to her strict regimen of tithing, she consistently gave to 3 charities.  St Joseph’s Native American School (her little Indian children), Salvation Army (who fed her grandmother, mother, and aunt and provided train fare for them to return to West Virginia from Oklahoma territory) and the Shriner’s whose children’s hospital in West Virginia saved her sister Ruth’s life during the polio epidemic. Her heart for giving included each year, handing her daughter Pamela Christmas cash, usually $500, to anonymously donate to the neediest family with the most children on Pamela’s school bus route. She loved children and was always prepared to help any family in need.  Margaret was raised in a musical family and was an excellent vocalist, harmonizing naturally with a rich strong voice in song. Even until the very end, she shared her memories of the entire Love family traveling and singing in 5-part harmony all over West Virginia as children.  Her sense of humor was immense, finding humor everywhere, with everyone.

Margaret’s life message was clear:  Love Jesus & follow His teachings; do not compromise your convictions; and embrace the adventure of life with both hands and give it all you have each day.  The staff at The Manor have expressed the deep impressions she left on them in her last months of life as proof of her mantra to the very end.

Her love for the Lord was not lost on her children. Surviving her are those children, sons Robert James Painter and Thomas Bedford Painter; along with daughter Pamela Love Considine. Margaret is also survived by daughter-in-law Vicki Lynn Painter, son-in-law Thomas Emerson Considine; and ten grandchildren, Robert Jeremiah Painter, Cresta Ann Copperthite, Courtney Allison Considine, William Rupert Considine, Jacob Michael Considine, Thomas Chancey Painter, Amanda Dawn Painter, James Scott Painter, and Jesse William Painter. Also surviving are many great grandchildren, a couple of great-great grandchildren, and a few dearly loved nephews and nieces; all scattered up and down the East coast.

Margaret was predeceased by her husband Rupert, her mother Winona, her father Earl, her three sisters Earline Treadway, Ruth Vegh, and Ina Lorraine Minnix, her two brothers James Love and Shirley Love, and daughter-in-law Terry Painter.

 The family seeks only your prayers for comfort and will hold a private family committal service in West Virginia later in the month.  In addition, there will be a memorial service in Phoenix, New York that will be held at a later date. The family also wishes to acknowledge the devoted care of The Manor at Seneca Hill nursing home, where the professional staff treated Margaret with dignity, kindness, and much love.

“Love the Lord and Pray a Lot!”