Margery Edith Brighton, 84, passed away peacefully Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Margery was born March 22, 1934, in Seattle, Washington, to her father, Lawrence Camp, and her mother, Vera Iverson Camp.
In 1955, Margery borrowed money to take a Greyhound bus to Los Angeles, Califronia, to make a “better life” for herself and for her young son, Steven Rowell. She had earned a scholarship through Western Union to be trained as a telegrapher. She successfully passed the class and began working at Western Union in downtown Los Angeles , where she met Donald Brighton, who she married in December of 1955. They had two daughters, Laura born in 1959 and Carol born in 1963.
Working to support her family and helping others less fortunate was the focus of Margery’s life. In 1970, the family moved to the Washington, D.C., area to pursue better career opportunities. Margery began working for Reuters, UPI and the Washington Post, news organizations that relied on teletype operators to get stories typed fast for publication. She was one of the few women teletype operators in a field that was dominated by men. She enjoyed her role and the excitement of breaking news stories. She would often work all night to meet deadlines. Margery retired from Time-Life Magazine in 1986. She continued to work full time as a typist until 2009.
Margery was known for her generosity to her family and friends. She particularly had a heart for people and animals in need. She donated regularly to many charities including: Guide Dogs for the Blind, Animal Allies and House of Ruth, a homeless shelter for women. She was generous to those who were “down and out” on the streets and to the cashiers at her local Giant Food who told her their troubles. She worked tirelessly for over 20 years as a volunteer for Animal Allies, fostering and finding adoptive homes for dogs and cats.
In 2011, Margery moved from her home of 30 years to be close to her daughters in Virginia Beach. Although Margery lived with constant pain and physical limitations due to a series of strokes, she remained fiercely independent. She insisted on using her walker rather than a wheelchair to get around until a few days before her death. She will be missed by her caregivers at the Memory Center, where she was appreciated for her humor and for remembering names.
Margery’s husband Donald died in 1990. She is survived by her children, Steven Rowell, Laura Brighton Lundstrom and Carol Brighton Smith, and their spouses, Lynette Rowell, Brian Lundstrom and Eric Smith; grandchildren, Brian and Amanda Rowell, Nathaniel and Ian Lundstrom, Brighton Riley Smith, Louis Bernard Smith, Chelsea Brighton-Smith and Maxwell Brighton-Smith; and great-grandchildren, Erica Rowell and Kianna Rowell.
A graveside service will be held at noon, Friday, Aug. 24, at Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax. A celebration of Margery’s life will be held in Virginia Beach at Francis Asbury United Methodist Church with date and time to be announced.
Share online condolences with the family at Altmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory.
