Margaret S. Storey, 98

DOVER - Margaret S. Storey of Dover passed away in her sleep Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007, in Boonville, N.C. She was 98.

She was born Jan. 16, 1909, in Phoenix, Ariz., to the late Robert and Margaret (Benson) Stockton.

Mrs. Storey held a Bachelor of Arts from Randolph-Macon Women"s College, Lynchburg, Va., and a Master of Music Education from Columbia University in New York City.

She came to Delaware in 1931 and began her professional career teaching history and music in the Selbyville school system.

Mrs. Storey served as Kent County supervisor of music for the state Department of Public Instruction for four years, visiting four rural one room schools a day as their beloved music teacher.

She was founder and chairman of the Music and Arts Department of Wesley College from 1942 to 1956.

Mrs. Storey coordinated the first Delaware high school summer vocal music camp with Delaware music educators volunteering their services and established the first Delaware-Maryland High School Piano-Vocal Ensemble Music Festival held at Wesley College for several years and then sponsored by the University of Delaware on their campus.

She founded four Dover area choral organizations and directed one or more of them for 40 years; namely the Century Clubs Women"s Chorus, The Community Singers, The Singing Players and the Delaware Choral Society, which presented the Messiah on the first Sunday in December 1956 through 1962.

The original chorus began as a women"s chorus sponsored by the Dover Century Club but open to anyone in the community to participate including men, children and youth.

Each of the aspects of Mrs. Storey"s career involved thousands of young people and adults who brought great enrichment in every aspect of arts and music theater to Delaware communities on a state wide basis of performances.

All of her 50 years of gratis service to Delawareans were made possible by the support of her late husband, Judge William J. Storey, a person who devoted his professional career to public service on the local and state level.

Mrs. Story built and moved to her retirement home in Winston-Salem, N.C., around 1985.

She received an honor award from Randolph-Macon at a special award ceremony for alumni and students in 1987.

Even though Alzheimer"s robbed her of her memory, Mrs. Storey maintained an active life in an assisted living nursing home through the coordination of her devoted friend, Peggy Boose of Boonville, N.C.

She is survived by many dear friends.

Remembrance services will be 2 p.m. Friday in Trader Funeral Home, Dover, where friends may call two hours prior.

Entombment will be at the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden.