Margaret L. Comstock

Margaret L. Comstock, formerly of Penn Yan, New York, passed away on her 98th birthday, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Wyoming County Skilled Nursing Home in Warsaw, New York, surrounded by family.

She was born in Buffalo, New York, on April 23, 1927, to the late Paul Cornell Dunning and Doris Gorke Dunning.

Margaret was a graduate of Nottingham High School in Syracuse and received her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Keuka College.

Margaret was a lifelong learner, always expanding her knowledge of family history, astronomy, birds, and sailing, surrounded by her notes and books.

Assisting her husband, Wilbur, Margaret was part of the tending and harvesting of the Concord grape vineyards as well as apples and peaches on the family farm, Keuka Crest, overlooking Keuka Lake.

Margaret was a member of the United Methodist Church in Penn Yan, the Ell-D-Van class of the church, the Eaton Birding Society, Cornell Ornithology Lab, the Auburn Camera Club, and the Canyon Camera Club. For many years, she was the treasurer of Keuka Club, the alumni association of Keuka College.

She was an active birder traveling to see new birds, maintaining bird feeders--keeping an annual bird count, and daily in the warmer months, checking seven bluebird houses on the farm. Her binoculars were always ready. She was an avid walker and amateur astronomer.

Family activities included weekend sailboat races on Conesus and Chautauqua Lakes and the Central New York Yacht Races, and travel to national parks or Chautauqua Institution for summers, and historic eastern seaboard sites during Easter vacations.

Visitors to Margaret’s home were treated to homemade grape juice from several varieties of grapes, and honey from the farm’s hives. She made the best pies at family gatherings.

She is survived by one son: Richard (Helen) Comstock of Schenectady, two daughters: Carol (Robert) Bussell of Indianapolis, Nancy (Stephen) Stoddard of Silver Springs, 9 grandchildren: David (Rebekah) Comstock, Elizabeth (James) Conley, Katherine (Benjamin) Turnbill, Margaret (Guillermo Rodriguez) Bussell, Rachael (Malik) Al-Jarani, Julie (Luke) Bingley, Thomas Stoddard, Alison (David) Ackermann and Paul (McKenna) Stoddard, 17 great grandchildren along with several nieces, nephews and friends.

Along with her parents Margaret is preceded in death by her husband: Wilbur R.

Comstock who passed away in 2009, siblings: Janet (Lewis) Briggs and Paul (Dawne) Dunning

A Celebration of Margaret's life will be announced at a later date.

Margaret will be laid to rest in Yatesville Cemetery in Yatesville, NY.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Penn Yan United Methodist Church

166 Main St. Penn Yan, New York 14527 or the Yates County History Center, 107 Chapel St. Penn Yan, NY 14527.