Margaret Eubank Stroud

SHREVEPORT, LA - Margaret Eubank Stroud entered the presence of the Lord on September 17, 2014. Services celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. in the Rose-Neath Marshall Street Chapel. Officiating will be Ray Boswell and Dr. Joe Bob Alexander. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon before the service. Margaret Eubank was born February 17, 1923 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Margaret attended Creswell Elementary School and graduated from C.E. Byrd High School in 1940 where she was a member of DBS Sorority. She then attended Centenary College of Louisiana through the fall of 1943 where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. She played the flute in the Byrd and Centenary bands and the Shreveport/Bossier alumna band for many years. Her maternal grandparents were Welsh born sea Captain William Harries Williams and Annie Richards Williams. This couple emigrated from Wales to Shreveport, Louisiana in the 1880's with Margaret's mother, Mabel Williams, who was a young girl. Margaret's father, Dillard Price Eubank, Sr., was born in Clark County, Kentucky. In the very early 1900's he came to Shreveport to research land titles for a Kansas City firm and fell in love with Mabel who he met at First Baptist Church. The two were married and made their home in Shreveport. He founded the Caddo Abstract Company in 1907. He also founded Forest Park Cemetery with his uncle as a partner and was one of the founders of the Bank of Vivian. He was a realtor and owned numerous tracks of land in the outskirts of Shreveport but all was lost after the Great Depression that began October 1929. When Margaret was a 17 year old freshman at Centenary College she began dating James H. ("Buddy"/ "Jim") Stroud, also a 17 year old freshman. The couple fell in love and at 20 years of age and was married at Highland Baptist Church in December 1943. Jim was in the Army Air Corps and was attending the University of Iowa at the time of their marriage. After Jim was discharged from military service in 1946 and following his graduation from law school at Tulane University in 1949 the couple made their home in Shreveport. Margaret deeply loved music and played both the piano and the flute. Margaret was a devout and active Christian having served as a teacher and/or Superintendent of 4^th grade Sunday school for 30 years at Highland Baptist Church. She was also an active member of the Gideon's International Auxiliary. After the merger of Highland and First Baptist churches the Stroud's were active members until their health deteriorated. Margaret and her husband of 70 years were devoted to one another and always held hands while walking together. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Margaret was predeceased by her parents, her two sisters and her three brothers. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Jim, her children: Jon and Barb Stroud of Portland, Oregon; Anne Harrison of New Orleans; Virginia (Ginny) Hooper of Shreveport; Martha and Wes Schmidt of Tyler, Texas and Robert and Brandy Stroud of Shreveport. Margaret has twelve grandchildren: Rachel Roberts; Paul Malone; Eric Hooper and his wife, Hope; David Hooper and his wife, Amanda; Nathan Harrison and his wife, Hope; David Stroud; Ira Harrison; Katherine Schmidt; James Stroud II; William Stroud; Edward Stroud; Margaret Stroud; Jackson McNeill and Katelyn McNeill. Margaret also has ten great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, Roger Hooper and Lelia Vaughan. Margaret loved being in nature and traveled for many years to the Hill Country of Texas to see the bluebonnets bloom. She loved birds and animals and enjoyed fishing and tending her garden. She taught her family to appreciate the beauty of God's creation. Margaret will be remembered for her love, kindness and exuberant spirit. Margaret had the most beautiful smile, a sparkling sense of humor and was a friend to all. Margaret and Jim have resided at Montclair Park assisted living for the past eight years and would like to express their appreciation to them for the loving, quality care which they have been given. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to First Baptist Church of Shreveport, 543 Ockley Dr., Shreveport, LA 71106 or a charity of donor's choice.