CLERICAL ASSISTANT II MARGARET A. BIRKHOLZ
ID 8517
SDPD 10/15/2002 - 12/01/2017
01/23/1939 - 02/25/2019
THE THIN BLUE LINE
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Margaret Ann Spurgeon was born on January 23, 1939 to Zelma Mae Vaughn Spurgeon and Samuel Lusk Spurgeon in Salem, Indiana.

She was born a Toe-Head Blond and her hair darkened as she entered school age. Her Mother had Tuberculosis so Mom was born with Tuberculosis. Due to the disease her Mother was separated from the family when Mom was 5 and she passed when Mom was 12.

She was raised for a few years by different sisters. Through a friend, Mom met Lyle who was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.  After 2 years of long distance dating Lyle proposed. They were married on March 14, 1958, in a small chapel in Salem. Lyle was scheduled for deployment and Mom was still in school so Lyle made her promise she would remain and complete her last year of High school.

She graduated as Margaret Ann Surgeon-Birkholz in June of 1958.  Lyle returned in October 1958 and moved her to Norfolk.  In 1964 and 2 girls later, Donna age 1 and Debbie age 4 we moved to San Diego where we remained.

Margaret worked at 2 different Dry Cleaners and cleaned houses as her girls were younger and when we moved from east San Diego to our current home in 1970, Margaret went to work for the Navy exchange at 32nd Street.

When Lyle became ill she retired in May of 1988.

After he passed she became a volunteer for the San Diego Police Department putting in almost 40 hours a week. Through much convincing from her girls and the Police Department, she applied for a job and went through the process and was hired 32 hours a week working in the Backgrounds and then Human Resources. Her favorite part of the job was taking the pictures of the Police Canines for their badges.  As her health and age were catching up with her she retired from the Police Department December of 2017.

Over the last year she suffered a stroke and mini strokes, through several falls she fractured a hip, her pelvis on 1 side, then the other, and her sacrum. Suffering another mini stroke on her birthday on January 23, 2019 she was unable to rebound. Her daughters promised they would keep her at home which they did, giving her the best care possible. She rallied for a few minutes at the end as she was surrounded by her Daughters and Donnas husband, Mike. She mouthed the words “I love you” and peacefully passed.

Margaret is preceded in passing by her Husband Lyle and Son in Law John. Both parents, Sisters Edna Lamb, Wilma Wilson, Hazel Greenway, Bonnie Spurgeon and Brothers Samuel Spurgeon Jr. and Irvin Spurgeon. She is survived buy Daughter Debbie Floyd, Daughter and Son-in-Law Donna and Mike Anders. Her extended family of Sons, Mark Card and Mark Kunz. Grandson James from Arizona and Grandson Gabriel and his wife Cori from Florida, 5 Great Grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, most of Lyles family, several friends and her beloved Police Department.Margaret and the family thank everyone who visited and called. That brought her a lot of joy and she indicated to her girls that she had no idea she was loved so much.

Basic information is provided as a courtesy and is obtained from a variety of sources including public data, museum files and or other mediums.  While the San Diego Police Historical Association strives for accuracy, there can be issues beyond our control which renders us unable to attest to the veracity of what is presented. More specific information may be available if research is conducted.  Research is done at a cost of $50 per hour with no assurances of the outcome.  For additional info please contact us.