VINTON – Margaret Bernice Townsend Ebarb, age 86, of Vinton, La. passed away on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 surrounded by her family. Margaret was born Dec. 16, 1934 in Natchitoches, La.

She was a native of Natchitoches, La. and had been a resident of Vinton, La. for 58 years coming from Winnsboro, La. Margaret was an educator, retiring from Calcasieu Parish School Board after 30+ years of teaching. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and sang in the choir and served on the Altar Guild. She was an avid reader who enjoyed puzzles, card games, and playing Bingo & Pokeno with her friends. Margaret loved all sports, especially when family was involved!

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Melissa Slusher (Bruce) of Hillsboro, Ore., Phillip Ebarb (Stacey) of Orange, Texas, and Valrie Gilbeaux (Troy) of Orange, Texas; six grandchildren, Sarah Slusher  (Derek Schlicke), Thaddeus “Tad” Prescott (Holly), Dakota “Dak” Prescott, Bailey Gilbeaux, Stephen Gilbeaux, and Lyvia Ebarb; five great-grandchildren, Kennedy Prescott, Annabelle Schlicke, Townsend “Eddie” Schlicke, Adalynn “Addy” LeBouef, and Jace Mackenzie “Mak” Prescott II; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of extended family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Glyn W. Ebarb; her parents, Lemmie and Margaret Texada Townsend; her daughter, Margaret “Peggy” Prescott; her grandson, Jace Prescott; her sisters, Georgia “Pud” Barousse, Lucy “Sis” Dosher, and Ruth Dibble.

Her teaching legacy was best summed up by a former student, Jonathan Harbert,  who wrote: “She was a very special woman to a lot of us in this town including me. 37 years ago I walked into a classroom for the first time and she was there to greet me; that was when kindergarten went half days. As a child starting school, she made that positive, loving, motherly impact on me and we loved her also. Throughout the years everytime she would see me she would always say, “There’s one of my babies.”  A few years ago she came up to the KC Hall to get her fried fish with this giant of a dog (Mohican) in the car with her; there again she called me one of her babies…I was 40 at the time but still her baby. I’ll be praying for you for God’s comfort in this loss but want you to know that a lot of our community mourn with you.”

The family will receive visitors on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 from 3 – 7 p.m. at Hixson Funeral Home of Vinton. Her Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1401 W. Park Ave., Orange, TX 77630. A private family inurnment will occur at a later date in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Memorial Garden.

Memorial donations in Margaret’s honor may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or Faith, Fight, Finish Foundation (www.faithfightfinish.org)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hixsonvinton.com for the Ebarb family.