Margaret (Harting) Irwin

Margaret F. (Harting) Irwin, 96, of Lewisburg, passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village.

She was born on December 20, 1928 in Philadelphia, a daughter of German immigrant parents the late Walter O. and Frieda A. (Kuntz) Harting. On June 2, 1951, she married John P. Irwin who predeceased her on October 27, 2021.

Margaret grew up outside of Philadelphia in Collingdale. June 4, 1946, she graduated from Collingdale High School and later Drexel Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics June 14, 1950.

She was a civilian worker for the U.S. Army Women’s Army Corp (WAC) helping to design and model woman’s uniforms.

Living in Lock Haven, she worked for Keystone Central School District in the Title 1 reading program.

She spent most of her life as a homemaker, raising her three sons.

She was an accomplished clarinetist, getting her earliest training from the principal clarinetist for the Philadelphia Orchestra.

For many years, she played clarinet and bass clarinet in the Lock Haven Community Orchestra, an activity she loved.

She was a Charter member of the Lock Haven branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women).

She and her husband Jack moved to Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village in Lewisburg in 2015.

Margaret was an avid knitter and, in addition, she sewed most of her own clothes. She also made large braided rugs from scraps from her sewing

She is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, John and Marsha Irwin, of Millbury, Mass, Paul Irwin, of Williamsport, and Mark and Gail Irwin, of Danville; one granddaughter, Sarah Irwin, of Millbury, MA and dear friend, Shawn Kammerling, of Cogan Station, PA.

Those who knew her will remember her as an entertaining and spirited conversationalist with a dry wit. She will be missed by those who loved her.

The family is planning a memorial service to be held at a later date.