Obituary of Margaret F. Ringwood

Margaret "Markey" Foley Ringwood died at her home in Endwell on Friday August 2, 2013 after a very short illness. She was born in Auburn, NY on August 4, 1933 to Dr. William P. Foley and Veronica Brennan Foley. She graduated from Holy Family High School in Auburn in 1951 and continued under the tutelage of the Mercy nuns at Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA, graduating in 1955 with a degree in Education, concentrating in Home Economics. Markey taught for one year at Geneseo High School. After her marriage, she served as a Tompkins County Extension Agent for Cornell University and following her husband's graduation from Cornell University Law School, moved to the Binghamton area. She returned to teaching, after raising her family, receiving her Master's Degree from SUNY Binghamton in 1974 and taught at Vestal and Maine Endwell School Districts, retiring in 1989. At that time, she opened her own business, with the first Mail Boxes, Etc. franchise in the Binghamton area. She successfully ran her store in the Campus Plaza in Vestal until she sold it in the mid-1990s. On August 18, 1956, she married Richard S. Ringwood, also of Auburn, and upon his graduation from Cornell Law School moved to Binghamton, living on the South and West Sides. In 1967, the family moved to Endwell, and for the past 24 years lived on Sunset Drive, overlooking the 17th hole of the Binghamton Country Club. She is survived by her husband, Richard S. Ringwood, of Endwell and her children, Catherine, Endwell; Thomas, Philadelphia; Margaret "Meg" Burt (Gene), Webster, NY; Joseph, Athens, GA; James (Ariel), Denver and daughter-in-law, Ruth Ringwood, Philadelphia. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Brianna, Colin, and Devin Ringwood, Philadelphia; and Kate and Kevin Burt, Webster, all of whom adored their grandmother. In addition, Markey is survived by her brother, William Foley (Ginger), Auburn; her sister Catherine Laskey (Thomas), Chicago; her brother-in-law, Hermano Tomas, O.C.S.O, Argentina, five nephews and two nieces. Markey was active in her profession, church and community and was a wonderful companion on the ski slope and golf course. She was a member of Greek Peak and skied at various resorts in Vermont and Colorado. She was a 50 year member of the Binghamton Country Club and a 15 year member of the Oaks Country Club in Sarasota, FL. She enjoyed golfing at courses in Arizona, California and Ireland. Markey was a true, dear friend to countless people, but especially to her husband, and to each of her children. A Memorial Mass will be offered at the Church of the Holy Family, 3600 Phyllis Street, Endwell Wednesday at 11 a.m. Entombment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Auburn, NY. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution in Markey's memory to your favorite charity would be appreciated.