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Margaret Fincke was born Feb. 19, 1914, at Hope, New Mexico and passed away peacefully May 7, 2008, surrounded by all of her children. A native New Mexican, Margaret grew up on a farm at Hope where she graduated as valedictorian of her high school class in 1931. She taught school in Cottonwood and attended the University of New Mexico during the summers, earning her B.A. in 1937. With an eye to the world beyond Hope, Margaret took a job in Santa Fe, first as a courier for La Fonda, and then as an elementary school teacher. It was in Santa Fe that her "life really began"; it was there that she met and fell in love with Robert T. Fincke of Estancia. Then Bob left for graduate school at Indiana University and she began a teaching job in the Panama Canal Zone shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. By that time Bob had joined the Army Air Corps. He proposed by letter and they returned to New Mexico to marry on the family farm at Hope. As an Air Force wife, Margaret toured the globe, living in occupied northern Japan, then Maryland, Alabama, Virginia, Tokyo and Ohio. After Bob retired, they went to a small island in Micronesia where he was principal of Mizpah High School. Three years later Margaret and Bob returned to Hope to help out on the farm. They brought three young Micronesians with them to finish high school in Artesia. Then she and Bob restored an old adobe in Albuquerque and entertained friends and family for 20 years. After Bob died, she made her home at La Vida Llena, where her reputation as a bridge player remains legion. Margaret is survived by her four children, Susan Fincke of Chicago, Bill Fincke of San Diego, Ola Fincke of Norman, OK and Roberta Walter-Fincke of Aschaffenburg, Germany, and four grandchildren, Andrew and Sophie Fincke, Thula and Franziska Walter. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, at 3:00 p.m. at La Vida Llena, 10501 Lagrima de Oro, NE, Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to a favorite charity. French Mortuary 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87112 505-275-3500 www.frenchmortuary.com
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