Margaret Ann Jennings

Margaret Jennings passed away in her sleep on the morning of August 5, 2023, two weeks short of her 99th birthday.   She was born on August 19, 1924 in Norwalk, Ohio, and grew up in Hartland, Ohio on a small farm east of Norwalk. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Florence Robbins, three brothers and one sister: Everett, William and Charles Robbins and Marilyn Bruner.  

Mom was part of what’s referred to as “the greatest generation.” Her generation went through the Great Depression during the 1930s, then endured WWII for four years. Her brother Willian served in the Army in Europe and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.  After graduation from New London High School in 1942, she left the farm and enrolled in a business college in Sandusky, Ohio. Her college was cut short by a call from her brother, who was in the Navy on the west coast, when he asked her to come to California with him and his wife.  Once there, she contributed to the war effort by working in an aircraft factory located in Alameda that repaired battle damaged aircraft and returned them to service. 

While working at the aircraft factory, she met a sailor by the name of Lin Jennings, who had just completed his Navy tour of duty in the South Pacific in the Solomon Islands fighting the Japanese.  He had lost half of his unit by the time he returned to the States. They fell in love and married on March 31, 1945.  Because of the influx of returning service men, jobs were scarce in Alameda.  They decided to leave for Okmulgee, Oklahoma, which was her husband’s birthplace. Unfortunately, jobs were scarce there too, so they packed their car again and moved to Norwalk, Ohio, where Dad found a job at the General Motors plant in Sandusky. Mom and Dad built two homes in Norwalk. Mom had five children: Janet Marshall, Gil Jennings, Patricia Meyers, JoAnn Gribben and Lou Ann Husted. Dad passed away in October of 1986.  Mom remained in Ohio until 1990 at which time she decided to move to Orange Park, Florida, to be with her children and grandchildren. 

Mom loved group walking at the Orange Park Mall and was always at the head of the line.  She also loved ballroom and line dancing, which she learned at the Orange Park Senior Center. It was there she met her companion Victor Palacio, who also was an Army veteran who served in Europe.  Victor loved dancing also. For years they would go to the Senior Center and VFW 7909 to have dinner then dance.  They were together for 20 years until Victor passed on March 25, 2021. 

Mom was a woman raised on a small Ohio farm and, as a result, liked the simple pleasures of life.  She looked forward to getting up in the morning, watching the sun rise and having a cup of coffee with slice of toast.  We hung a bird feeder outside her Florida room window and she was constantly calling her family describing the birds that showed up on her feeder. She was also fond of hummingbirds that frequently visited her backyard. Then, for entertainment in the afternoon, she would watch for hours the national news with which she became very opinionated.  She enjoyed great health and worked in her yard until her late 80s. 

Margaret was a member of the United Methodist Church in Orange Park and requested a private family funeral. We will all miss you, Mom!!

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