Search Results

Harper -- Madge Palmer Harper, age 82, died Monday, January 27, 2003 in Albuquerque. Mrs. Harper was born Madge Lorene Palmer to James H. and Mildred P. Palmer on May 4, 1920 in North Belle Vernon, PA. As a child, she lived in North Belle Vernon, PA, Los Angeles, CA, and Rochester, PA. She graduated valedictorian of Rochester High School in 1938, was editor of the school paper and a member of the swimming and basketball teams. She graduated from Cornell University in 1942 where she was the women's editor of the yearbook, the president of the French Club, a member of two honorary societies, a member of the Women's Self Government Association, and a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She worked as a Spanish-English executive secretary in Mexico City in 1942 and 1943 and for the Consul General of Venezuela in New York City, receiving a medal from the Venezuelan Government. She married Ashby Taylor Harper on March 25, 1944 in Pensacola, FL. In 1945 and 1946, she worked at the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ and as a spanish-English interpreter for the United Nations in New York City. In 1947 Mr. and Mrs. Harper moved to Quito, Ecuador where they both taught at the Colegio Americano de Quito. The Harpers later resided in Lima, Peru, St. Louis, MO where Mrs. Harper taught Spanish and Mr. Harper was Headmaster at the St. Louis Country Day School, and Guatemala City, Guatemala where her husband was the first Director of the Peace Corps. In 1964, they moved to Albuquerque where Mr. Harper accepted the position as Headmaster of the Albuquerque Academy. Madge's quiet devotion to her family, her husband, and the Albuquerque Academy will remain a light to us all. Mrs. Harper is survived by son, Frederick Taylor Harper and wife, Donna; and son, David Palmer Harper, all of Albuquerque; daughter, Margie Harper Reber and husband, John Reber of Cherry Hill, NJ; grandchildren, Cody Taylor Harper, Lyndsay Elisabeth Harper and Lance Maurer, all of Albuquerque, and Ashley Taylor Reber and Alex John Reber, both of Cherry Hill, NJ. Mrs. Harper was preceded in death by her husband, Ashby in 1992, son, Richard Ashby Harper in 1981, and brother, James Palmer. A Final Visitation will be held on Friday, January 31, 2003 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Sandia Funeral Care, 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 1, 2003 at Chapel of Sandia with Dr. Paul Debenport of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations to the Ashby T. Harper and Richard A. Harper Memorial Scholarship Fund at Albuquerque Academy, 6400 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque NM 87110. Sandia Funeral Care 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010
        Published on: Fri January 31, 2003