Margaret (Marge) Asprey passed away peacefully at home in Bellingham, WA at the age of 102. Marge was predeceased by her beloved husband of 60 years, Larned (Larry) B. Asprey, and one son, Bob Asprey. She is survived by six children, Pete (Bellingham, WA), Betty Strietelmeier (Denver, CO), Barbara (Pagosa Springs, CO), Peggy (Los Altos, CA), Tom (Boulder, CO), and Bill (Lake Stevens, WA), her sister Sue Hartenbach, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a wide extended family.
Marge was born and raised near Chicago where she met and married Larry while both worked on the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago. At the end of World War II, they moved to Berkeley, CA. They ultimately settled in northern New Mexico (Los Alamos and Española) where they created a happy home for their seven children before retiring to Las Cruces, NM. In her later years, Marge spent time near family in California and Washington State.
She was actively involved in her young children’s lives and served as a scout leader and substitute teacher. An avid gardener, Marge always had flowers and fresh vegetables in their home. She loved opera, musicals, playing the piano, and was always up for a good game of bridge. She was active in democratic politics and was a strong proponent for women’s rights.
A life-long learner, Marge earned a mathematics degree from the College of Santa Fe while at home with her children, taught middle school, and became one of the first women to program computers at Los Alamos National Labs. She and Larry were great adventurers together and both earned their pilot’s licenses. Marge even flew their airplane to Albuquerque to continue her studies, earning her nuclear reactor license at the University of New Mexico. After retiring, she tutored engineering students at New Mexico State University and continued to take classes into her 90s.
Her many accomplishments were recognized when she was awarded the Walter Zinn Life-Time Achievement Award in Nuclear Sciences. Marge also wrote a book “A True Nuclear Family” detailing her adventurous life.
In lieu of flowers Marge requested donations to Planned Parenthood. The family is celebrating this wonderful woman privately. She will be much missed.