Margaret "Marty" (Gelly) Waller's Obituary
MARGARET GELLY WALLER
St. Michaels, MD. A life to be celebrated ended on May 15, 2013. This beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother was born into eternal life after a short illness and died peacefully at Talbot Hospice House. She was born August 7, 1930 in Atlanta, GA, to George Balfour Gelly and Margaret Vaughan Gelly, and known to her friends and family as Marty. She grew up in Washington, DC, Hawaii, and Brentwood, CA. She graduated from Georgetown Visitation Junior College in 1949 and attended The George Washington University. In 1950 Edward C. Waller took her as his bride and they loved deeply for 63 years. Marty and Ed enjoyed a successful 34 year career in the Navy and when Ed retired in 1983, they settled in St. Michaels and have treasured the Eastern Shore for 30 years. She was a great listener, a wonderful hostess, and a woman who made the most of every moment. She volunteered her services to many organizations. During a 4 year stint in Los Angeles with Ed’s corporate job, Marty worked as a real estate agent at a high end firm in a booming California real estate market. She was as successful in this endeavor as she was as a wife, mother and friend. She adored their home and gardens at Solitude and welcomed family to their beautiful estate. Marty suggested owning a home in retirement that children and grandchildren would want to visit and they came in droves. Marty and Ed enjoyed traveling the world in retirement and she shared her photographic hobby on note cards. Marty was a member of the Harbor Club and a parishioner at St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church. Marty is survived by her husband, VADM Edward C. Waller and their three children, Robin Waller Marrah and her husband, John, of St. Michaels, MD, Ed Waller, Jr. and his wife, Penny, of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Peggy Waller Wilckens and her husband, John, of Annapolis, MD. She has 12 grandchildren: Michael, Kristen, Jennifer, CJ, Matt, Andy, Kelly, Kate, Tanya, John, Patrick and Ed and 11 great grandchildren (with two more on the way). She was preceded in death by one daughter, Kristen Leigh Waller, and one brother, George Vaughan Gelly in addition to her parents. The funeral service will be held at the United States Naval Academy Chapel at10:30 AM on Tuesday, May 28, with burial and reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) in her memory. Arrangements are by the Ostrowski Funeral Home, St. Michaels, Maryland.
What’s your fondest memory of Margaret?
What’s a lesson you learned from Margaret?
Share a story where Margaret's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Margaret you’ll never forget.
How did Margaret make you smile?