Marjorie Ebeling

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At 97, Library Thrift Store volunteer knows importance of community
By: The Picayune Staff // August 25, 2015

Margie Schroeter, the 1936 valedictorian of Marble Falls High School, has always held a spot in her heart for education and reading. Even in her 90s, she still regularly volunteers in the community, including at the Marble Falls Library Thrift Store. The staff named her 'Volunteer of the Month' for August.

MARBLE FALLS -- The Marble Falls Library Thrift Store depends on a cadre of dedicated volunteers to keep the doors open and the goods moving through. One of those volunteers doesn't let her age slow her down one bit.

Margie Ebeling Schroeter is just shy of 97, yet she makes it twice a week for her volunteer duties at the thrift store. She's a testament to the Highland Lakes' volunteer spirit.

For her continued efforts and work ethic, the thrift store staff named Schroeter the Volunteer of the Month for August.

Schroeter is no stranger to the Highland Lakes community. She grew up in the Hill Country, attending Shovel Mountain School, which was located in southern Burnet County, for her first nine years of school. As a Marble Falls High School student, she and others who lived south of the Colorado River found themselves depending on ferry rides for much of the 1935-1936 academic year after a flood washed out the bridge. Still, she not only managed to graduate but finished at the top of her class as valedictorian.

Schroeter attended classes at the University of Texas after graduation. In 1941, she married Arthur Schroeter. The couple settled down in the Double Horn area of Burnet County. While her husband was fighting World War II, Margie went to work at a local bank and also taught at Marble Falls High School. During this period, she took correspondence courses (through the mail; computers and the Internet were still many decades away) and earned her teaching certificate.

A believer in education, Schroeter had a carpenter build a cover for the back of her Chevy pickup truck so she could shuttle Shovel Mountain-area kids back and forth to Marble Falls for school. She taught full time for four years and then substituted for the next 36 years.

After Arthur returned in 1945, the couple raised two children: Donna and Gay Nell. Her husband passed away in 1993.

Schroeter continues to inspire those who know her. Even today, she can still shoot a gun, drive a Jeep and cook big meals.

"She is truly an amazing person and a valuable volunteer for the library thrift store," friends and colleagues said.

The Marble Falls Library Thrift Store is located at 300 Ave. J. It's open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Go to marblefallslibrarythrift.com for more information.

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Margie Schroeter
September 15, 1918=August 2, 2016

Margie Ebeling Schroeter was born to Edward and Marie Ebeling on September 15, 1918 in Austin, Texas and passed away August 2, 2016. Her family lived in the Shovel Mountain Community where she and her brothers, Pete and Robert Lee grew up. She attended the school at Shovel Mountain and finished her last two years in Marble Falls where she graduated as valedictorian in 1936. All of her life was spent near Marble Falls, except for a few years attending the University of Texas and working in Austin at the Southern Gas Company.

She married Arthur Schroeter in September 1941, and they moved to a home in the Double Horn Community. During World War II while Arthur served in the US Army, Margie taught at the Marble Falls High School and drove the Double Horn students to school in a covered pickup. After the war, she continued substitute teaching for many years.

She, Arthur, and their two daughters moved to a ranch near Fairland where they raised goats and cattle. During those years, they participated in the Methodist church, community activities, and taught GED classes at night.

After retiring from teaching, Margie volunteered at the Marble Falls Library Thrift Store, where she continued to serve twice a week until January 2016.

A tough, frugal woman with a strong will and strong opinions, she always worked hard. After Arthur died, she lived alone on the ranch for 23 years.

She loved her family and demonstrated that love by her care for them. She always welcomed them, cooked for them, remembered them on special occasions, pushed them occasionally, and wanted the best for them.

Margie is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Donna and Warren Heffington and Gay and Chic Vinson of Marble Falls; four grandchildren and their spouses, Sam and Kayla Heffington, John and Ann Heffington, Justin and Amy Vinson, and Karis and Pete Pasley; and five grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Leta and Jean Ebeling.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Marble Falls Library are appreciated. ³

Marjorie married Arthur Winfred Schroeter, son of Kurt Schroeter and Margrete Gretchen Wennmohs, in 1941. (Arthur Winfred Schroeter was born on 8 Feb 1916,⁴ died on 30 Jun 1993 ⁴ and was buried in Lakeland Hills Memorial Park, Burnet County, Texas ⁵.)