Margaret Watts Rieder departed this life to be with her Lord on May 23, 2017, at age 97.
She was a Huntsville native, born here on February 27, 1920, to Clarence L. Watts and Inez Looney Watts. Margaret attended Huntsville public schools and then Samford University as a scholarship recipient. She completed her college education at the University of Oregon, where she met and married her husband, Robert W. Rieder, Sr. In 1964, she returned to Huntsville and worked for many years for Watts, Salmon, Roberts, Manning & Noojin, a law firm originally established by her father.
She is survived by her sons, Robert W. Rieder, Jr. (Cindy) of Huntsville, and William Lee Rieder (Faye) of Nashville, Tennessee; a sister, Elizabeth W. Whitten, also of Huntsville; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. Her parents; husband; two brothers, William P. Watts and C. Lee Watts; sister, Jane W. Fitts; and a grandson, Andrew W. Rieder, predeceased her.
Margaret believed in the value of Christian education and encouraged her grandchildren to attend Christian schools. As a descendant of early Huntsvillians, she supported efforts to preserve the hallmarks of the city’s history. During her years in Huntsville, she was an active, faithful member of the Randolph Street Church of Christ, where her father and grandfather served as elders.
Throughout her life, Margaret was a loyal, caring friend, she was completely devoted to her family, and she loved and trusted God.
Visitation will take place at the Mayfair Church of Christ at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Margaret may be made to the Childhaven Children’s Home, P. O. Box 2070, Cullman, Alabama 35056; the Disaster Relief Effort, P. O. Box 111180, Nashville, Tennessee 37222-1180; the Historic Huntsville Foundation, 124 Southside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801; or a charity of the donor’s choice.
‘The memory of the righteous will be a blessing.’ Proverbs 10:7
