Margaret Rose Gates, 83, passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior on May 4, 2020 at 2:00 am. Beloved wife of Donald R. Gates , Jr. for the last 11 years. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Christian J. Bisking and a son Mark Bisking.  Together they raised 4 sons, John, Eric, Richard, and Mark Bisking. Margaret. fondly called Peg or (Aunt) Peggy, is the daughter of the late John A. and Margaret (Resh) VonStetten of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She is survived by husband Donald of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, sister Mary Ann Carroll of Dunedin, Florida, and sister-in-law Patricia J. Dorwart, of York, Pennsyl vania, as well as her grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and her Gates family Donald,Pamela, Matthew, Kimberly Gates.  She is preceded in death b y siblings Mildred C. Parker, Elizabeth F. Brown, Henry W. Dorwart, and David E Dorwart.

Born in Lancaster, PA, Margaret was a hard-working person with a fun-loving laugh. For over a decade when she was an older adult, she woke before dawn and walked to the Weis Market on Millersville Pike in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to set up the bakery for the day's baked goods. Earlier in life she worked steadily, including running a day-care center, and at Lancaster General Hospital in the kitchen and as a nurse's aide. She also is a 1957 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Margaret was a crafter and also grew adept at using a computer well before her peers, sending family and friends inspirational messages of God's love and words of encouragement and humor. She learned to make her own greeting cards and loved to send recipes to her family and friends through social media.

Margaret's life had much hardship, but she had time for gratitude for the good things, and the little things, like her pet birds. In 2009 she made a big decision to move by herself-to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to marry her dear husband Donald January 22, 2009. These have been joyful years for Margaret. Her sister, Mary Ann writes, "Peggy was very proud of her husband's role as a Minister and made many friends in their church." Peg often wrote about her contented time with Donald, surrounded by a pleasant and friendly neighborhood and their dog and cats and garden. Margaret loved Southern Gospel music and made many friends in this field of Gospel music. Margaret is deeply missed by her husband Donald and all who loved her.

In lieu of flowers Memorials may be made to Unity Baptist Church, Arkadelphia, Arkansas and the Clark County Humane Society in Arkadelphia.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.  Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the guest book.

Due to the current health crisis, a celebration of Margaret's life will be announced at a later time.

Submitted by the Gates Family.