Philippines RPCV Margaret Quakenbush Eastman Bingham dies in Oakland
Obituary for Margaret Quakenbush Eastman Bingham
By Katherine Pfrommer, STAFF WRITER
OAKLAND -- Margaret Quakenbush Eastman Bingham, church deacon and activist who dedicated her life to children and her church, died unexpectedly Aug. 24 after collapsing on an Oakland street. She was 60.
"She's been a part of this church since the 1970s. She was an important part of our community," said Pastor Michal Anne Pepper of University Christian, where Ms. Bingham was a deacon. "She was a quiet presence, very faithful. Her death was so unexpected, we're trying to make sense out of it all."
Services are scheduled for 7:15 p.m. today at University Christian Church, 2401 La Conte St., Berkeley.
Born Sept. 4, 1942, in Washington, D.C., Ms. Bingham was raised in New England.
She graduated from University of New Hampshire and spent two years in the Philippines with the Peace Corps.
She studied social work in graduate school at University of Michigan and moved to Oakland in the 1970s.
"She's always liked California, she considered it her home," sister Cordelia Kohrman of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., said. Family said Ms. Bingham didn't like cold and loved the diversity, scenery and climate of California.
In addition to her involvement with the church, Ms. Bingham worked as a social worker in San Francisco, family said.
"She really was interested in helping others, that was her mission," her sister said. Ms. Bingham always wanted to help people, was always environmentally concerned, and always politically active, she added.
Ms. Bingham was devoted to helping children.
She worked with the children at her church, and volunteered her time to kids at Rose Street Community Child Care Center for 25 years, Pepper said.
She also doted on her nieces and nephews, family said.
Ms. Bingham loved to travel and, in addition to the Philippines, spent time in Germany and Japan.
In addition to sister Cordelia Kohrman, Ms. Bingham is survived by sister Louise B. Bennett of Rochester, New York, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Contributions can be made to the Margaret Bingham Memorial Fund, c/o University Christian Church, 2401 La Conte St., Berkeley CA 94709, or Rose Street Community Child Care Center, 1226 Rose St., Berkeley CA 94702.
