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Throughout her life, Margaret S. Buvinger pursued her passions, believed she could make a difference and championed the rights of others. Margaret was born on March 13, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She grew up and attended school there. During her early years, she was active in Camp Fire and various school activities. She won many academic, music and service awards. One of the first signs that Margaret would make a difference was during her high school years. Margaret played French horn in the Withrow High School band, the first girl to join the band in any Cincinnati high school. The school required that she have a woman chaperone and she had to wear a skirt while marching. That did not last for long, as Margaret insisted she be permitted to wear slacks. Yes, the rule was changed.
Music continued to be a major part of Margaret’s life. She was a talented pianist and taught lessons on both the piano and French horn to support herself through college. While attending University of Cincinnati, she played in both the band and orchestra. During World War II, Margaret volunteered at USO clubs playing the piano. Margaret continued to teach music lessons through the years and shared her joy of music to many. In her later years, she could still be heard playing the piano for others to enjoy.
Early in her life, Margaret found joy in the service of others. She joined various clubs throughout her school years and served as the editor of the high school newspaper. She grew up attending Walnut Hills Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and played French horn and piano solos. She was active in church youth groups both locally and statewide. Later, during World War II, Margaret volunteered as a “block captain” for her neighborhood, checking to ensure all lights were out during the black-out drills and lighting the gas street lamps when needed. This set the tone for a future of church and community service.
Education was an important part of life for Margaret. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Botany, was elected to Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Beta Kappa, and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She pursued her love of music while carrying a full course load at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She joined the Musicians’ Union Local No. 1 and played professionally in Cincinnati. In 1948, she earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and held a lifelong membership with the Ohio Bar Association. Later she received honorary doctorate degrees from Bethany College in West Virginia and Phillips University in Enid. In 1991, she was named one of three Distinguished Alumni for McMicken College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati.
Margaret married Wilson (Bill) J. Buvinger on Friday, October 13, 1944, while Bill was in the US Army and finishing medical school at the University of Cincinnati. Margaret and Bill considered the 13th a lucky number for them as they both were born on the 13th, got married on the 13th and had their only son born on the 13th. During their early years of marriage, they moved several time as Bill completed his Army service and residency. The family grew during this time with the birth of Mary, Anne and Wilson.
Upon completion of Bill’s residency in St. Louis, MO, they decided they should find a “nice place to raise their family”. So in the summer of 1952, the family moved to Enid where Bill established his ear, nose and throat practice. They family continued to grow with the addition of Sarah, Nancy and Lois. Margaret and Bill joined Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and serving in many leadership capacities.
While raising her family, Margaret once again found various ways to serve the community and make a difference in the lives of many. She became very involved in the activities of her six children. She served as a Blue Bird/Camp Fire leader for many years. While the children swam competitively with the Champlin Foundation Swim Club/Enid Y Aquatic Club, she helped organize and run many swimming meets. She also drove countless miles to swimming meets throughout Oklahoma and adjoining states.
Margaret was always a firm supporter of education and music education. She served on the Enid School Board for 28 years and was President of her local, state and National School Board Associations. When she retired in 1991, the Enid High School named the new music building “The Margaret Buvinger Music Building”. Margaret also consulted with many school boards across the country in superintendent searches.
Servicing the Enid Community in many ways, Margaret was involved in the United Way Board, Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, Vance Air Force Base Community Relations Council, Community Development Support Association Board, Enid YWCA Advisory Board, Community Day Care Center Advisory Board, Junior Welfare League, PEO, American Association of University Women, and Human Relations Committee.
Margaret’s honors for her service to the Enid Community were numerous: Outstanding Citizen of the Year from the Salvation Army of Enid 1969, Woman of the Year from the YWCA 1973, Margaret Buvinger Day in Enid 1978, Citizen of the Year, Enid Chamber of Commerce, 1979 and 2000, Pride of the Plainsmen Award, EHS Student Council 1981, Governor’s Arts Award for Arts and Music education in Oklahoma, 1987, Partner in the Sky Vance Air Force Base, 1996.
Margaret’s dedication to her church and faith played an important role in the ways she served others. Besides singing in the choir, playing bells, serving with Christian Women’s Fellowship and teaching Sunday School, Margaret was one of the first women Elders of the church. In 1998, Margaret was named the Central Christian Church’s Mother of the Year. She was active at both the Regional and National level of the church, serving on the General Board, as First Vice-Moderator and Assistant Parliamentarian of the Disciples of Christ General Assembly. She served on boards for Church Women United, the Christian Board of Publication, the United Christian Missionary Society, Phillips University Board of Trustees and Phillips Theological Seminary board of Trustees.
She felt honored to share her love of music with the youth and community. Margaret helped with Tri-State Music Festival beginning in the 1960’s. Many participants were made welcome in her home. She played piano to accompany solos performed by her own children and her French horn students. She served on the Tri-State Board and was President for many years. In 1982, she was appointed Managing Director until she retired in 2001. Margaret continued to play her French horn with the Enid Symphony Orchestra and served on that board until she was almost 80 years old.
Yet with all of this, Margaret found time to indulge in her many other interests. She traveled and particularly enjoyed her annual trips to Santa Fe with Bill where they enjoyed nature and a week of outstanding musical performances and operas at the outdoor Santa Fe Opera. In 1978, she traveled to China as a representative of United State educators. In 1984, she traveled to Russia with the National Council of Churches. The family vacations often took round about ways to interesting places to see and experience places discovered in her readings. Along the way, she updated her daily log of bird sightings as she was a member of the Audubon Society. Twice a year, she went on the Audubon Society bird count, taking her children along. Margaret was a gourmet cook and loved to try new recipes. She read voraciously, loved to knit, do creative needlework, and played bridge for many years with the same friends monthly.
Bill and Margaret continued to support their church and the community they loved for as long as they could. Bill died in May, 2003 and Margaret died in March, 2006. They are buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid.