Margy J McDowell

Margaret (Margy) J. McDowell, 88, of Coshocton passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at her home since 2021, Windsorwood Place Assisted Living, after a brief stint with Hospice. Her friend and aid of many years, Carolyn Lewis, was by her side.

Margy would also like to thank Barb Hire, Barb Mitchell, and Sally Bullens for being so close and dear the last several years. At Windworwood, Margy was typically seen doing puzzles, or talking, with loud bright colored compression socks and a smile on her face.

Margaret was born in Peoria, Illinios, June 21, 1938 with a twin brother Malcolm (a few minutes earlier) to an older brother Larry, and parents Lester and Ruth (Yoder) Litwiller. She grew up and attended schools in Wooster, Ohio where she played violin and was fortunate enough to attend Interlochen with her twin brother the summer after her Junior year. Growing up in Wooster, she fondly remembered sled riding at the nearby country club with friends growing up, playing in musical productions, and enjoying time at the family's nursery farm outside of town.

She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology from what was then known as Bluffton College and met her Husband (John) of 31 years there. She and John married in 1960 and had two boys James (1961) and Philip (1964). The family lived on Cambridge Road Coshocton for a few years until they moved to Plainfield in 1970 where they lived until she separated from John in 1991. Over the years, she taught violin and viola lessons, Played 2nd chair violin and 1st chair viola with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic (35 years in all), volunteered as Hospice aid and as a driver for people need rides to Zanesville and Columbus.

After separating, she moved to Roscoe where she became a tour guide. She particularly enjoyed demonstrating loom use in rug making and meeting people from all over the world. Particularly, the school bus loads of kids on field trips. Margy was a very social person.

Throughout her years in Coshocton County, Margy was a long- standing member of the Coshocton Presbyterian Church where she led and participated in the bell choir (Joy Bells and/or Dingalings), choir and any other musical opportunities.

Margy was preceded in death by her older brother Larry (2008) and is survived by her twin brother Malcolm still living in Ross CA. She is also survived by her children, James McDowell and Philip (wife Ruth) McDowell, with both living in Hillsdale Michigan making Motorcycles as Cobra Moto. Also surviving are Grandkids Randal and Georgia McDowell, Allison Woodbeck, Michelle Mischler, Barry Beranek, Toney Beranek, and Renee Beranek, with Great Grand kids, Iris, Agnis, Francis and Josie.

A celebration of life will take place on October 24, 1:00 PM at the Presbyterian Church where Margy was known, on more than one occasion in her later years, to drive her car into the utility pole at the end of the parking lot. That, like everything else she did, she did with a smile on her face. The event will be officiated by Pastor Mark Unrue. There will be a social with snacks and deserts afterwards. Please join.