Margaret Reed Finch

September 28, 1931 – February 14, 2012

Born Margaret Elizabeth Reed in Waterloo, Iowa, on September 28, 1931 to Ronald Gordon and Patricia Anne (Perrin) Reed and died on February 14, 2012 in Santa Barbara. She was the younger sister of the late Anne Ehrhardt of Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Margaret studied at Carleton College, where she met her future husband, Robert Carl Finch; her degree in political science is from the University of Iowa. After marrying in 1953, she taught school and participated in the founding of a non-profit community center in Minneapolis. She and Robert moved to Davenport, Iowa, in 1956, and it was there that the first of their four children, Bob, was born. In 1962, the family relocated to Santa Barbara, where Margaret resided until her death. Margaret’s children Reed, Anne, and Beth were born here. After her years as a homemaker, Margaret initiated a new career, working at Safeco Title Company (later Chicago Title) as a respected escrow officer until her retirement. Margaret also served as president of the South Coast Business Network.

Margaret possessed a lifelong passion for theater and music, and in her later years she discovered opera, which became one of her great joys. She also loved to travel. Although Margaret maintained close ties to the Midwest, Santa Barbara was her home, and she was especially grateful for the wonderful friendships she developed and for the many happy years in the house she and her husband built here. She was also deeply grateful for the spiritual path that brought her to Trinity Episcopal, where she served in many capacities, most recently as Junior Warden.

In addition to her children, Margaret is survived by her daughters-in-law Diane (wife of Reed) and Patty (wife of Bob) and her grandchildren Krista, Steven, Megan, and Connor. Family members who preceded her in death include her parents, her former husband, and her sister.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 25, at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1500 State Street. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Casa Serena, the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, or a charity of your choice.