Margaret Boone Hunt Landis

Margaret Boone Hunt Landis, 89, of Columbia, PA, passed away on Monday morning, November 9, 2020. Born in Johnstown, PA, she was the daughter of the late Clarkson Toms Hunt II and Margaret Evans Lincoln. Margaret’s family moved frequently while she was young because of her father’s career with the Pennsylvania Railroad. By the age of 12, she had lived in Johnstown, Cresson, Pittsburgh, Wynnewood, Harrisburg, Wilmington and New Castle. Her family moved to Lancaster in 1943, and in 1947, her mother purchased and restored the Neff-Passmore House at 247 East Orange Street. Margaret always considered this historic Lancaster City residence to be her first true home. Margaret graduated from Lancaster Country Day School in 1949 and was the class president for her senior year. She attended Bryn Mawr College and Lancaster Business College. She married the love of her life, the late William B. Landis, M.D., in 1951. They were married for 39 years at the time of his death in 1990. Between 1955 and 1959, she and her husband lived in Victoria, TX, while William served as a Captain in the US Air Force. The Landises returned to Lancaster and purchased an old colonial stone farmhouse along the Marietta Pike. Chiques Stonehouse was Margaret’s home for nearly 62 years, and a place that she loved for its beautiful countryside and its remarkable history. Margaret was raised as a Presbyterian in the First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, but joined St. James Episcopal Church after her marriage. In 1968, she became a member of Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Maytown, PA. She was an active worshiper there for over 50 years. She served two terms on the Church Council and sang soprano in the choir for a number of years. Margaret’s love of music played an important part throughout her life. From the time she was a teenager, Margaret played the piano and sang. She participated in the Marietta Community Chorus for several years. While she played the piano very little in later years, she sang in her church’s choir until just a few years ago. Margaret was very active in her community. She volunteered with the Red Cross during tropical storm Agnes. She was an Inspector of Elections with Springville District in East Donegal Township. Margaret was a volunteer with the People United For the Arts (PUFA). She was the president of Friendly Lancaster County West. Margaret was active with the Lancaster County Hospital Authority, and she was a board member of the American Quilt Museum. Margaret’s one true passion was history – a love that had been passed down to her from her mother. She was a Bicentennial re-enactor with Donegal Rangers and Captain Matthew Smith’s Company of Riflemen, Brigade of the American Revolution. Margaret was the founder and first president of The Mordecai Lincoln Society, Inc. She was acknowledged as a descendant of Abraham Lincoln and admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Margaret was admitted to the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1968. She was most proud of her family’s heritage and her 52-year membership in this esteemed organization. She was a board member of the Historical Preservation Trust of Lancaster County. She was a Trustee of the Lancaster County Historical Society and was the Museum Committee Chairperson. Margaret was active with the Lancaster-York Heritage Region, River Towns Heritage Development Strategy Project Committee. She was a Board Member for Rivertownes PA USA. Margaret was president of the Haldeman Mansion Preservation Society. She was a board member, Vice President, and President of the Marietta Restoration Associates, Inc. Margaret enjoyed a wide reputation for her remarkable knowledge and unceasing promotion of local history in western Lancaster County. She gave lectures to local historical groups, and in recent years, she chaired the Marietta Town Talk series sponsored by The Marietta Community House. Margaret helped write Marietta’s first walking tour guide in 1979. She authored and completed nominations for the Marietta Historic District Extension in 1983 and the Chickies Historic District in 2005. Both were approved by the Bureau for Historic Preservation, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and National Register. She was awarded two New Era Rose Awards, one for each accomplishment. Margaret’s love of history was also displayed in her efforts to preserve historic buildings. Between 1988 and 1991, she succeeded in having the exterior of the Haldeman Mansion in Bainbridge restored and preserved, and between 1984 and 1987, she succeeded in having the exterior of the Union Meeting House in Marietta restored and preserved. From 2003 to 2013, Margaret acted as treasurer and historian for the restoration and preservation of the Mussleman Vesta Iron Furnace Center at Marietta with the creation of a museum showcasing the history of iron industry in the area. She was extremely proud of this project and of the devoted group of volunteers who worked tirelessly for over a decade to see this restoration and museum become a reality. Margaret received the C. Emlen Urban Award for Leadership from the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County in 2009. Margaret was a Board Member and a former Vice President of The Marietta Community House. In 2019, Margaret was given a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House Of Representatives Citation honoring 40 years service to The Marietta Community House. In spite of her accomplishments and awards, Margaret always considered her roles as a wife and a mother as the most important commitments of her lifetime, and she was very proud of her family. She is survived by her four children; Dr. William “Tex” Landis (Odessa) of Glen Rock, PA, Dr. Barbara Hoffmann (Wayne) of Hellam, PA, James Landis (Stephanie) of Mount Joy, PA, and Phillip Landis (Judy) of Wrightsville, PA. Also surviving are Margaret’s eight grandchildren, Rebekah Landis Dietrich, Rachel Landis Ziegler, William “Caleb” Landis, Christopher Hoffmann, David Hoffmann, Meghan Henderson, Hannah Landis Arnold, and Phillip Landis; and 10 great-grandchildren. Her beloved sister, Alice Lincoln Hunt Daily of Savannah, GA, preceded her in death. A Memorial Service to celebrate Margaret’s life will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at The Marietta Community House, 264 West Market Street, Marietta, PA 17547. Pastor James Anderson and Rev. Robert Lescallette will officiate. Friends are welcome to greet the family starting at 1:00 p.m., and refreshments will follow after the service. A private family interment will be held at Woodward Hill Cemetery. Please make donations in Margaret’s memory to Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 11 North Queen Street, Maytown, PA 17550.