Margaret Montalvo

HARPSWELL — Margaret Beth Montalvo, 93, of Harpswell went to be with her Lord surrounded by her family on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014.

Margaret was born in Port Jervis, N.Y. to Stanley A. and Marion B. Walter. The daughter of an Erie Railroad family, she was raised between Hornell, N.Y., Hackensack, N.J., and Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her Oral English degree from Ithaca College in 1941.

In 1945, she married Edwin J. Montalvo Sr. who died in 1985. They were married for 39 years and made their home in Hackensack, N.J. until they moved to Maine in 1976. Together, they co-founded The Montalvo Corporation of Gorham, an international manufacturer and supplier of electronic and mechanical web tension control equipment, and she served as its CEO until her death.

Margaret is survived by her four children, William Montalvo of Raymond, Edwin Montalvo of Freeport, Elizabeth Montalvo of Harpswell and Margaret Denham of Gray; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edwin Sr.

A service of celebration was held at Deering Center Community Church, 4 Brentwood St., Portland, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 at 10 a.m. with Pastor Donald Drake officiating. Burial followed in Evergreen Cemetery, Stevens Avenue, Portland. Arrangements are under the direction of Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Online condolences may be expressed at www.ctcrawford.com

The family requests that contributions be made in Margaret’s memory to: The Root Cellar, 94 Washington Ave., Portland, ME 04101.