DARTMOUTH — Margaret McKay Dodge Perry, of South Dartmouth, died peaceably at home after a lengthy illness.
She lived in Dartmouth for more than 70 years, and was an active member of the community who had a passion for politics and the stock market. She was the wife of the late Leonard E. Perry, a New Bedford attorney who served as Town Counsel and Selectman for the town of Dartmouth.
Mrs. Perry was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, in 1921, and attended public schools in Detroit, graduating from Mackenzie High School in 1938. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1942 and enrolled in the United States Engineering Management Training program, which trained a group of young women to work as engineering aides for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. She then worked as a surveyor in Flagstaff, Arizona, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles, California.
Margaret met Leonard at college, and they were married in Detroit during the war while he was on leave from the U. S. Navy. When Leonard returned to duty, she stayed in Detroit and worked as a weight analyst on the design of the P-75, an experimental plane developed by the Fisher Body Division of General Motors.
After the war, Leonard attended Harvard Law School, and she worked as a grader and research assistant at Harvard Business School. She especially enjoyed working for Professor Georges Doriot, considered to be the father of venture capitalism.
Margaret and Leonard moved to Dartmouth in 1950, where they raised three children, and both were deeply engaged in the community. Margaret served as a Town Meeting member, member of the Town Charter Commission study group, League of Women Voters President, and Republic Town Committee Chairperson. She was elected G.O.P. State Committee Woman and attended national conventions in Kansas City, Dallas and Houston. She also enjoyed teaching women in investing, forming the Moneta Investment Club and attending several national conventions of the National Association of Investment Clubs.
Besides her academic pursuits, Margaret loved social activities and adventurous trips. She was a member of the College Club of New Bedford, Ladies Luncheon Club, Mothers Club, New Bedford Yacht Club, and Wamsutta Club. She also enjoyed sailing with her husband on trips to the Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Bay Islands, Australia, Greece, Grenadines, and the Florida Keys.
Margaret leaves three children: William Perry, of Seattle Washington, and his wife Pamela; Daniel Perry of South Dartmouth, and his wife Susan; and Candace Hall of South Dartmouth and her husband Whitney. She also leaves nine grandchildren: Dodge, Laura, Nathan, Rebecca, Whit, Brett, Katharine, Matthew and Carolyn.
Funeral arrangements are by Wilson Funeral Chapel in New Bedford, and a memorial service will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dartmouth Education, Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, 128 Union Street, Suite 403, New Bedford, MA 02740 (online www.cfsema.org -- Dartmouth Education), or Community Nurse Home Care, 62 Center Street, Fairhaven, MA, 02719 (www.communitynurse.com