Obituary of Margaret Meredith Knapp

MARGARET WITHERSPOON MEREDITH BELDING KNAPP 83, died Thursday, October 8, 2020 at the Harrodsburg Health and Rehabilitation Center after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born April 17, 1937, the only child and daughter of the late Dr. Thomas Overton Meredith and Mabel Kirby Witherspoon Meredith. Margaret graduated from Harrodsburg High School, Class of 1955 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Kentucky in 1959. After graduating from UK she taught school in Jeffersonville, KY. While living in Lexington she worked at Stewarts Department Store and Hurst Office Supply. She also worked at Danville Office Supply, and Old Fort Harrod State Park and was a substitute teacher in the Harrodsburg and Mercer County Schools. Margaret was a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and held many offices in KAO at local, state and national levels. She was also a lifelong Presbyterian. She attended and was active in both the Maxwell Street Presbyterian and Second Presbyterian Churches while living in Lexington, KY. In later years she returned to Harrodsburg to live in the Meredith family homeplace. From that time until she became ill and unable, Margaret was a very active member of her home church, the Harrodsburg United Presbyterian Church, becoming an Elder as well as serving many years with the Transylvania Presbyterian Women in several capacities. Margaret always had a very giving heart and sympathy for those less fortunate than her. She was happy to give of her time and talents. She supported many charities but there were a few that really tugged at her heart and which she was passionate about their cause: the Mercer County Habitat for Humanity, St. Judes Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN and the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center. She also served on the Harrodsburg Library Board. Margaret so loved Harrodsburg and never left after returning there. Margaret loved her family more than anything in the world, most especially her children and grandchildren. She was proud of her Meredith family roots and it was important for her to share her special family memories with her children, grandchildren and younger cousins so they might know and have some sense of their heritage. Margaret was proud to be a Kentuckian but more importantly to be a UK Wildcat Fan. She was such a loyal WILDCAT FAN that she would never wear anything RED in color. Margaret is survived by three children: Thomas N. Belding (Lisa deceased), Mary Ann Rawlings (Jeff), and David M. Belding (Leisa); Two Step-Daughters, Penny Brown, Debbie Davis (Jeff); Twelve Grandchildren: Jessica, Leanna, Emily (Devin), Amanda (Soso), Josh, Zach, Angela, Brittany, Chase, Tanner, Ava and Julian; Nine Great-Grandchildren; one niece and one nephew. Margaret was predeceased by a special aunt, Margaret Witherspoon, daughter-in-law Lisa Belding, first husband and father of her children, Thomas N. Belding and second husband Richard B. Knapp. Margaret’s family wishes to thank the staff at the Harrodsburg Health and Rehabilitation Center for the excellent care and concern they provided to Margaret. Funeral services will be 1 PM, Tues., Oct. 13, 2020, at the Ransdell Funeral Chapel, Harrodsburg. Burial will follow in the Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg. Visitation will begin at 11 AM, Tues., Ransdell's. Pallbearers are: Josh & Zach Belding, Jeff Rawlings, William Harris, Devin Peach, Phillip Wysocki, and Tre Rawlings. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer's' Association, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or to Mercer Co. Habitat for Humanity