Margaret Bur (Snyder) Chandler

margaret (snyder) chandler

March 10, 1930 ~ October 16, 2024

Born in: Evanston, Illinois
Resided in: Asheville, North Carolina

Margaret “Peggy” Bur Snyder Chandler passed away on October 16, 2024 in Asheville NC. She was born March 10, 1930 in Evanston, Illinois to Margaret Bong Snyder and George Herman Snyder. She attended Evanston Township High School. As a teen she belonged to a YMCA club called the Brownings and played girl’s basketball at the Y. She kept in touch with many of her friends from high school for the rest of her life.

She was inspired by her school librarian to major in English with a minor in library science at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. She became a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority and made many lifelong friends there. She was also involved with the sorority as an alum. It was through these sorority sisters she met the handsome Chi Psi fraternity brother Jack “Shad” Chandler and they married after he graduated with a journalism degree. At this point she had completed only 2 years of college because she had been taking every other year off to earn money for her college education. (In those days there was no financial aid like there is now.) So, as was customary at that time, she withdrew from college when she married and had two children, Mark, in 1953 and Paula, in 1955. The young couple moved around the country in the early years of their marriage. First Shad served in the army as a small arms instructor during the Korean War, then he had various assignments for United Press International in Boston, MA; Syracuse, NY; and Albany, NY. They grew tired of moving so often, so in 1959 Shad took a job in public relations with Illinois Bell in his home town, Wheaton, Illinois. Shad died in a tragic accident while working on their new house in 1960. He was the love of her life and she never remarried.

Peggy decided that she wanted to finish college and follow her dream to become a school librarian so she used the life insurance money to move herself and two children, age 8 and 11, to Urbana where she matriculated in college as a 34 year old (which was a rare occurrence at that time.)She finished her bachelor’s, obtained a teaching certificate, and earned her masters in library science. She became a school librarian at Urbana Jr. High School in 1968 where she served for 25 years. She served as an example to her children that with determination and hard work they can achieve whatever goals they set for themselves. As any librarian would, she always encouraged them to broaden their horizons and raise their expectations beyond what they might think possible.

Peggy was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Urbana. She loved researching her family’s genealogy, dogs, her garden, crafting, and, of course, she was an avid reader. In 2009 she moved to Houston to be near her daughter, and then moved to Asheville, NC in 2022 when Paula and her husband retired there. She was a resident at Deerfield retirement community in Asheville.

She is survived by her children: Mark Chandler (Ann) and Paula Schlesinger (née Chandler)(Alan) as well as her 5 grandchildren: Katie Schlesinger, Jack Schlesinger(Stephanie Bergren), Madeline Schlesinger (Daniel Perenyi), John Chandler (Sarah), William Chandler (Lindsey), and her 3 great grandchildren: Halle and Mia Chandler and Winifred Bergren. Her brother Richard Snyder preceded her in death.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM on January 18, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church in Asheville.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the School of Information Science at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.

Services

Memorial Service: January 18, 2025 4:00 pm

Room: Chapel

First Presbyterian Church
40 Church Street
Asheville, NC 28801


View current weather.

Memories Timeline

Photo Gallery

Guestbook

  1. Dr. Schlesinger,
    We are sorry for your loss. Our prayers continue for you and your family. Your mother was a blessing. May she rest in peace.
    Alice and Scott Ward
    Houston TX


Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle

Accessibility Tools
hide