Margaret Moselle Hall Hamilton, retired George C. Marshall High School teacher and reading specialist, died Dec. 5 in Arlington. She was 94.
Born March 14, 1918 in Albemarle County, it was Mrs. Hamilton’s dream to be a teacher. Her mother enrolled her in a small Episcopal mission school in Charlottesville, now Blue Ridge School, to help her achieve her dream. Mrs. Hamilton applied herself to her studies and was given a scholarship to attend Harrisonburg State Teachers College (now James Madison University) where she attained a teaching certificate at age 19. In 1960, she completed her Bachelors Degree in Education at the University of Virginia. In 1969, she attained a Master of Education Reading Specialist Degree from the University of Virginia.
Mrs. Hamilton began her career as a fourth grade student teacher at Main Street School in Harrisonburg. Her first full-time teaching position was in a one-room schoolhouse in Whitehall in Albemarle County. Over her 42-year career she taught in Scottsville, Manassas, Charlottesville, and Falls Church (Lemon Road, George Mason and George C. Marshall).
In 1978, Mrs. Hamilton retired and became an ardent community volunteer. She was a longtime member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society of women educators, and served as president. She joined the Fairfax Hospital Auxiliary and held various leadership positions. Mrs. Hamilton mentored and tutored students at local schools, served as a member of the Dean’s Council of the UVA Curry School of Education, and was a campaign committee member for Blue Ridge School. She was an active member of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in McLean.
Mrs. Hamilton joins her husbands Carroll B. Hamilton and Patrick J. O’Connor, sister Mary Pace, brother James Hall, and parents Margaret “Maggie” and Edward D. Hall, who preceded her in death. Survivors include sister-in-law Laura Hall of Harrisonburg and brother-in-law Warren Pace of Falls Church, nephews W. Joseph “Joe” Pace, Jr., John H. Pace, John E. Hall, David A. Hall, and nieces Mary Pace Sciba and Brenda Hall Robey, as well as numerous great-nieces and-nephews.
There will be a celebration of remembrance at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in McLean. Family will receive guests an hour prior to the service. Burial will take place that afternoon at Holly Memorial Gardens, Charlottesville.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Auxiliary of Inova Fairfax Hospital – Scholarship Committee and the New Teacher Grant of the Alpha Nu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
