Margaret Amelia Latsha Reid of Tunkhannock passed away November 21, 2016. 

 Born November 9, 1924, she spent her childhood years in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College in 1945, a master’s degree in religious education from the Oberlin School of Theology in 1947, and a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1950. 

A women’s clergy pioneer, Margaret became a probationary member of the Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Church when the Church approved full clergy rights for women in 1956.  She was ordained as a deacon in 1961 and as an elder in 1965.

From 1975 until her retirement in 1994, Margaret served five northeastern Pennsylvania United Methodist Churches, beginning at Hunstville and continuing on to Courtdale, Tunkhannock (as associate pastor), Beaver Meadows, and Eatonville.  She was also chaplain of Tunkhannock Manor and served on numerous committees of the Wyoming Conference, its Wilkes-Barre District, and the Women’s Society of Christian Service.

After coursework at Wilkes College and the Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational Technical School of Practical Nursing, Margaret became a licensed practical nurse in 1978.  She worked for nine years as a medical aide in the offices of three Wilkes-Barre area doctors, then continued for many years as a Red Cross volunteer.

Margaret also studied accounting at Luzerne County Community College and opened Top-Notch Tax Service in her Wilkes-Barre home in 1982, continuing to work with her tax clients through 2006.

She also enjoyed camping and music, often serving as church organist or pianist.

In each of her undertakings, Margaret was striving to reach out to others with God’s love.  She looked on her tax work and her medical work as serving God by helping people.  She would have long talks with some of her tax clients and felt she was truly ministering in that role.

Margaret is survived by son Philip and wife Penny of Beaumont, Pa., daughter Elizabeth and husband William Beebe of Spring Hill, Pa., son Thomas and wife Kathleen of Oberlin, Ohio, six grandchildren (Larry and wife Hope Beebe, Darcy and husband Andrew Berry, Sarah Reid and husband Eric Yetter, Christiana and husband Timothy Behnam, Amelia Reid, and Miriam Reid), and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Christiana Latsha, and by her husband of 60 years, former Wilkes-Barre City Councilman and Wyoming County Commissioner Rev. William W. Reid, Jr.

Friends may call at the Tunkhannock United Methodist Church 5 Marion St. Tunkhannock from 4 – 7 p.m. on Friday, November 25.  A Memorial Service will be held at the Tunkhannock United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 26.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Margaret’s memory to the Eatonville United Methodist Church, 44 Church Rd., Tunkhannock, Pa.  18657.  Arrangements by Harding-Litwin Funeral Home, Tunkhannock, Pa.

For online condolences or directions visit www.aplitwinfuneralhomes.com.