Margaret Cruce

Margaret Elinor Bender Cruce, 93, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of St. Charles, Missouri, died Friday, Oct. 30, 2015.

Margaret, known as Marge to her family and many friends, was born June 12, 1922, in Cape Girardeau.

She attended Central High School and received a degree from Southeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Southeast Missouri State University) in Cape Girardeau. While teaching in Cape Girardeau, she met and married Robert A. Cruce of Morrilton, Arkansas. They moved to St. Charles in 1952. Margaret taught history and English at T.L. Hardin Junior High School for 25 years and was chairwoman of the English department for many years.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. During her 58 years in St. Charles, she was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and Our Savior Lutheran Church. She also belonged to several bridge clubs, reading clubs, AAUW and church Birthday Club, Mother's Club and Altar Guild.

She is survived by a son, Stephen Bender Cruce and his wife, Dr. Patricia Siuta-Cruce, of Montvale, New Jersey; a daughter, Elizabeth Cruce Alvarez and her husband, Lamberto Alvarez, of Southlake, Texas; four grandchildren, Kirby (Joel) Cruce Westervelt, Nolan Oliver Cruce, Veronica Elinor Alvarez and Lamberto "Beto" Alvarez III; two brothers, Edward (Kay) Bender and Kenneth (Martha) Bender of Cape Girardeau; a nephew; and four nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Robert A. Cruce; her parents, Martin Gottfried Bender and Elinor Hermine Wilder Bender; and her sister, Louise Bender Roth.

Visitation will be at 1 p.m. today at Baue Funeral and Memorial Center, 3950 W. Clay St. in St. Charles.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be left at www.Baue.com.