1939 (t) Margaret Louise Cota (89)

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1939 (t) Margaret Louise Cota (89)
Margaret Louise (Cota) Aguilar

San Diego Union Tribune, CA Feb. 9, 2010
AGUILAR, MARGARET LOUISE Margaret Aguilar died peacefully at her home in the early morning of February 4, 2010, with her daughter and granddaughter at her side. She was born in Salinas, California on June 16, 1921 and was the daughter of Joseph Alvarado Cota and Mabel May Marcus. Margaret will be remembered for her happy disposition and her energetic and fun-loving spirit. Having lost her mother when she was only seven years old, one of her greatest ambitions was to give herself wholeheartedly to her family as a homemaker and provider. She was equally proud to be a military wife to her beloved late husband of 57 years, Col. Arthur Aguilar. Although her family was stationed at many locations, her favorite tour was in Rome from 1955 to 1958 where she met many life-long friends, never tired of seeing the sites of Italy and, most importantly, learned bridge! Arthur and Margaret's longest military assignment was in Virginia where they were able to settle their family of four children, Ronnie, Peggy, Art, and Carol, from 1961 to 1970. For the duration, Arthur served at the Pentagon and, for several years, Margaret also worked at the Pentagon as a secretary, receiving young soldiers for their job assignments. She had worked in military offices in Okinawa where the family was stationed for several years after the War. For many years Margaret was the caregiver for her adult child, Peggy, who suffered from complications of diabetes and died at the age of 34. When Margaret and Arthur retired in 1970, she enjoyed making her home in Pacific Beach, spending time with her children and grandchildren, touring Southern California, dining and dancing with friends at the Officers' Club, and playing bridge in numerous neighborhood groups and military clubs. She was a founding member of the Soledad Bridge Club, playing regularly for over thirty years. She was also very fond of her "four-some," a small group of friends who gathered weekly to play bridge and enjoy each other's company. Margaret was an avid reader, often completing a novel a day. She loved libraries, making weekly visits and leaving with stacks of books. Margaret was happy that last year, in the company of her daughter, Carol, and her friend, Deborah, she was able to make one last visit to her beloved Monterey. Having lived there for many years as a child and later, as a young bride, she considered Monterey her home-town. She visited her childhood home, her favorite beach where as a youth she swam daily, her high school, the wharf where she worked in the Forties packing sardines, and the now abandoned Fort Ord where she and Arthur had met and worked. She loved to tell the story of how she had first met Arthur at a club where he asked her to marry him on their first dance! He remained her faithful husband and best friend for over fifty years. Margaret is survived by her brother Joseph Cota, her children, Ronald, Art Jr., and Carol, and her grandchildren, Brian, Eddie, David, and Amy. Her legacy is her fine example of courage, enthusiasm in work and play, devotion to family, and determination to always make time for good fun. As she requested, her ashes will be scattered off the San Diego coast at the same location as her husband. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to a charity of your choice.

Margaret Louise Aguilar Last Residence: 92109  San Diego, San Diego, California, Born: 16 Jun 1921 Died: 4 Feb 2010 State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951)