1922
Margaret
2021
Margaret Moorman Banks Kehrer
July 29, 1922 — January 7, 2021
Margaret Moorman Banks Kehrer, born July 29, 1922, in Bolivar, TN, was brought to Virginia Episcopal School at one month of age by her parents, Joseph Kentworth Banks, Sr., and Margaret McAnulty Banks.
After growing up on the VES campus where her father taught for 43 years, and attending Lynchburg public schools, Margaret graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1943. A chemistry major, she was one of the first women chemists hired by DuPont during WWII.
After marrying Victor John Kehrer on January 1, 1944, in the Langhorne Memorial Chapel, Margaret and Vic spent a six-month honeymoon at the Hun School in Princeton, NJ, where Vic was teaching. Soon thereafter they became part of the Manhattan Project and moved to Oak Ridge, TN, Vic a supervisor, and Margaret a statistician. After Vic’s work at the Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh, the Virginia Institute for Scientific Research in Richmond, the Allied Chemical and Dye Corp, in Syracuse, and Pratt Whitney Aircraft in Hartford, enough snow and cold weather sent them back to Virginia. After Vic’s teaching at Christ Church School, they returned to VES.
Wherever they lived, Margaret volunteered in museums, for Meals on Wheels, the Lynchburg Area Food Bank, Presbyterian Women, and the Guild and the gift shop at Westminster-Canterbury. Countless individuals have been recipients of her birthday cards and angel food cakes.
Margaret’s unusual hobby was capturing spider webs on slate—all of which are treasured by many throughout the country. A member of First Presbyterian Church, Margaret was also devoted for many years to the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
Survivors include her son, Paul John Kehrer (Laura Lee); her brother, Joseph K. Banks, Jr.; a nephew, Joseph K. Banks, III: and a niece, Catherine Anne Banks.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
After growing up on the VES campus where her father taught for 43 years, and attending Lynchburg public schools, Margaret graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1943. A chemistry major, she was one of the first women chemists hired by DuPont during WWII.
After marrying Victor John Kehrer on January 1, 1944, in the Langhorne Memorial Chapel, Margaret and Vic spent a six-month honeymoon at the Hun School in Princeton, NJ, where Vic was teaching. Soon thereafter they became part of the Manhattan Project and moved to Oak Ridge, TN, Vic a supervisor, and Margaret a statistician. After Vic’s work at the Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh, the Virginia Institute for Scientific Research in Richmond, the Allied Chemical and Dye Corp, in Syracuse, and Pratt Whitney Aircraft in Hartford, enough snow and cold weather sent them back to Virginia. After Vic’s teaching at Christ Church School, they returned to VES.
Wherever they lived, Margaret volunteered in museums, for Meals on Wheels, the Lynchburg Area Food Bank, Presbyterian Women, and the Guild and the gift shop at Westminster-Canterbury. Countless individuals have been recipients of her birthday cards and angel food cakes.
Margaret’s unusual hobby was capturing spider webs on slate—all of which are treasured by many throughout the country. A member of First Presbyterian Church, Margaret was also devoted for many years to the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
Survivors include her son, Paul John Kehrer (Laura Lee); her brother, Joseph K. Banks, Jr.; a nephew, Joseph K. Banks, III: and a niece, Catherine Anne Banks.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
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