By Robyn Koenig
This article is written in memory of my mother, Margaret Edith McWhorter Woolley.
Margaret was involved in scouting from an early age. She was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, in 1941. By the end of the ’40s, she joined Girl Scouts at the age of 6 or 7. She would tell me stories about how she earned her badges and how she met girls from all over Rahway, New Jersey.
In 1956, at the age of 14, she was selected to attend the first Girl Scout Roundup that was held in Milford, Michigan. She not only met girls from across the country but also met girls from around the world. She exchanged S.W.A.P.S. with many girls. What are S.W.A.P.S? It is a Small Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Someplace. It is a long-standing Girl Scout tradition.
Although Margaret was enjoying traveling with the scouts around the country, she did a lot right in here in her home town of Rahway. She used her skills and talents to earn the highest award to earn in Girl Scouting, the Curved Bar. It is now called the Gold Award and is a very prestigious award. It honors a scout that displays service as well as mature thinking and planning abilities.
As an adult, she joined scouts as a leader. She was a leader of about 30 girls, which a very large troop. She also accepted girls from all races and backgrounds way before the country did. She was a trendsetter and continued that way of life until she passed. She was a role model for the girls, whom she saw great ability and talents which she could foster and help grow into strong women.
Both my sister and I were scouts. Our mom, Margaret, was our leader. I became a scout in the 1980s. I joined at the age of 6 and was a scout for 12 years. With her guidance, I earned my Gold Award. She was my role model in scouting and I felt I owed it not only to myself to earn the Gold Award, but to my mom as well.
In 2008, my oldest daughter was 5, old enough to become a Daisy. I became her leader to uphold our family tradition. When I told my mom, she said, “I want to join your troop.” It was a great honor to have her in our troop. For the next 10 years, she was an adult volunteer in Troop 41748 of Rahway. My two daughters were in the troop. We had three generations in the same troop. The whole troop was in awe of her stories. When she spoke, all of us listened. She taught the girls to knit, cook, helped them with badges and was the troop nurse. She worked as an RN for over 50 years.
A story on how she became known as the “Toughest Scout in Rahway.”
In 2016, after our Troop saved for over two years, we went to Savannah, Georgia, the birthplace of Girl Scouting. On day two, Mom fell and hurt her shoulder. We went to take x-rays, and nothing was broken in her shoulder; it was just a sprain. She continued to hike the streets of Savannah with no complaints, just asked to sit down to rest. When we returned to Rahway she was still in pain. More extensive x-rays showed she had a broken rib. She hiked the whole city for six days with not one complaint. This is why she was called, “The Toughest Girl Scout in Rahway.”
After being a scout for 70 years, she has definitely left her mark on many people and places. We miss her terribly in Troop 41748 as well as Rahway Service Unit #54, where she held the position of Treasurer as well as worked with council.
With my mom, being so involved in such a great organization, I have some pretty big shoes to fill. But with my mom as my leader role model and inspiration, I know she set me up for success and she is watching, and my girls as we continue her adventures.
Quotes from some girls and a co-leader:
“Ms. Margaret was always doing little things to help other people. She was just a sweet person.” Caitlin Welsh, 12, Cadette in Troop 41748.
“Ms. Margaret was fun to be around. She would go camping and roast marshmallows and S’Mores. She was a pleasure to be around.” Lily Ternay, 12, Cadette in Troop 41748.
“Amazing. Passion. Love. Fun. We miss you, Ms. Margaret.” Gracie Sullivan, 10, Junior in Troop 41748.
“I was grateful to know her. A wonderful lady, an awesome Girl Scout and so kind. I will always cherish the knitted hand towels she made for me.” Doris Jellison, Co-leader Troop 41288.
(above) My mom (center) with her four grandchildren (l-r) Monyka Koenig, Michaela Woolley, Margaret Woolley, Zachary Woolley, and Charlotte Koenig.
(above) My Mom, Margaret Woolley
(above, l-r) My mom and a friend.
(above) Picture of my mom and her leaders in Merchant and Drover’s Tavern aka the Girl Scout house.
(above) My mom and her troop during a costume event.
(above) Picture of my mother’s sash from her youth, with the Curved Bar award. Also, pics of her recognitions and patches from Rahway.
