Maggi Watson’s reign as Lund Family Matriarch and Kansas’ Oldest Bowler
came to an end on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at her home in Wichita,
Kansas, where she lived independently until her last breath at 102.
Margaret "Maggi" Lund Watson was born July 23, 1919, in Ensign,
Kansas to Clarence Jeffrey (CJ) and Ruth Crockett Lund. She was welcomed
by her older brother, John and sister, Bernice and they were raised on
the family wheat farm. She attended a one room schoolhouse and was
valedictorian of her high school class.
She graduated from Fort Hays Kansas State College and pledged a
sorority that merged with Delta Zeta and lived the sisterhood for almost
80 years. Although a social sorority, the primary DZ philanthropy is
focused on the hearing impaired. At the time of her death, she was the
oldest Delta Zeta from Fort Hays, as well as the nation. At some point
in her young adult life, she and her sister, Bernice, went to Chicago
for Fashion Design School. They had a great time during their time in
the big city, but Kansas called them back home.
She was a woman ahead of her time and was stationed in the Army in
San Antonio. She dedicated herself to her Occupational Therapist career
at the Veterans Hospital and delayed marriage until the age of 40. She
married Norman Watson on Valentine’s Day 1960 and together they shared
fifty-four years of traveling the world and explored most of the United
States.
She actively belonged to Bridge Club, Bowling League, First
Methodist Church and Delta Zeta until her death, so she was obviously
spry, lively, mentally alert and quite active her entire 102 years. At
her 100th birthday celebration when asked words of advice for living a
long life, she said, “Don’t worry! It’s a waste of time. Keep moving
and you can only live in the moment you’re in."
She is survived by her loved nephews and nieces, Ken and Diane
Francis, Kristi and Mike O’Dell, John Richard and Nancy Lund, Jennifer
Lund and Bryan Anderson, Eric Lund and Julia Alexander as well as
nephew, Jeff Lund’s wife, Diane and all of their families. She is
preceded in death by her parents, CJ and Ruth Lund; husband, Norman;
brother, John (Esther) Lund; sister Bernice (Gene) Francis; and nephew,
Jeff Lund.
The memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at
11:00 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway,
Wichita, KS 67202. Live Streaming will be available.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to; First United Methodist
Church, 50/50 Sunday School Class, 330 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202;
Delta Zeta Sorority, c/o Pat Crowe, Wichita Alumni Treasurer, 814 S.
Prairie Park Rd., Wichita, KS 67218; or YMCA Job Prep Program, c/o
Downtown YMCA, 402 N. Market St., Wichita, Kansas 67202. Services in
care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary East Chapel.