Obituary of Margaret R. (Killam) Frost

Today a “light in the window” has been turned off. Margaret Rebecca Killam Frost, having grown up as the eldest of four children on the Killam Farm Estate, the present-day site of Masconomet Regional High School, was a life-long Topsfield, Massachusetts resident. Margaret passed away quietly at her beloved home on Main Street on February, 15. She was 97 years old. Margaret or Miss Margaret as she has been affectionately called by so many was the wife of the late Wallace (Wally) M. Frost. She was also preceded in death by her parents Dana F. and Rachael Foster Killam, her brother Franklin W. Killam, her sister Nancy Killam Begin, and her son Robert E. Turnbull. She is survived by her sister Clara Killam Raffensperger of Delaware, her daughter Joy T. Thompson and son-in-Law James W. Thompson of Oklahoma, her son Robert’s widow Mitzie A. Turnbull of Maine, 7 grandchildren and 17 greatgrandchildren. Margaret, a lovely lady, and always the “proper Bostonian” but with a twinkle in her eye, was loved by many. A smart and articulate woman, she was valedictorian of Topsfield High School’s class of 1941, and a graduate of Salem’s Business School. Margaret had a long and successful professional career, having worked for State Street Bank & Trust in Boston during World War II, and later other more local banks. She held several managerial positions (unheard of for women at the time) in the banking business. She then worked for several years in the insurance business and later for a large law firm. Sometime later she shifted careers again. A woman ahead of her time, she went on to become one of the first women in the state of Massachusetts to hold a Real Estate Broker’s license, which she kept active until she was 93 years old. She was very proud of her heritage and her family’s history in the area which dates back to the mid- 1600s. She was an active member of the General Israel Putnam Chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) having held the position of Chapter Treasurer for many years. She was an active member of the Board of Trustees for the historic Holten House in Danvers, MA and served as its’ Secretary for many years. She was also an active member of the Box-Top Community Club for many years and donated her time at the Topsfield Thrift Shop to support the area Visiting Nurses Association. She had a love for painting and arts and crafts and was a member of the Stoneham Arts and Crafts Guild. She was an avid reader and could hold her own in conversation on a great variety of subjects. Perhaps her greatest pleasure in life, however, came from her beloved Siamese cats. To those that she knew, she would often say before their arrival or upon their departure, “I will keep a light on in the window for you” and that is what she did. For well over 50 years those passing by her home on Main Street would always see a light on in the window. Private interment services will be held at the grave site located at the family cemetery behind Masconomet Regional High School when weather permits. As an expression of sympathy and condolences, donations can be made in Margaret Frost’s memory to the General Israel Putnam Chapter of the DAR or to the Holten House Maintenance Fund. Both are Massachusetts based 502 C3 organizations that support the history and heritage of the area. Donations can be mailed to: General Israel Putnam Chapter DAR, C/O Mary Brown, 278 High Street, Topsfield, MA 01983 or to the Holten House Maintenance Fund, C/O Mary Brown, 278 High Street, Topsfield, MA 01983