Margaret Elisabeth Welk Cundiff passed away in her family home in Arlington, Virginia on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025.

Margaret was born in Washington, DC on February 2nd, 1953 to Elvera Olga Renata Bierlein, and Robert Louis Welk.

Margaret grew up in Arlington, Virginia. The family also spent several years living in Frankfurt, Germany and Athens, Greece while Margaret was in elementary and middle school, before returning to Arlington where Margaret graduated from Yorktown High School in 1970. She subsequently attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree, and Kent State University where she earned a Master of Library Science degree.

Margaret worked as a professional librarian, first at the University of Maryland as a music cataloger, and then at the Library of Congress as a music librarian and as an instructor in the Library’s training office.

In 1986 Margaret married Morgan Vance Cundiff. They have one daughter, Elisabeth Claire Cundiff. They made their home in Arlington.

After leaving the Library of Congress, Margaret devoted herself to being a wife and mother. She created a happy home for her family, and was an active volunteer for a wide variety of youth activities, including swim team, school plays, dance groups, field trips, and many church activities. Notably, she served in the creative arts ministry of the orphanage and school operated by Living Hope International in Ndola, Zambia. She made many trips to Zambia as part of that work.

Margaret had many personal interests. She loved sacred choral music and she especially treasured her time as a member of the Washington Bach Consort in the 1980s. She loved to travel, especially to Europe, and she instigated many memorable family trips. She loved gardening and spending time outdoors with her family.

She also maintained a large number of friendships and was a prolific correspondent. She kept up many long relationships with friends and family, both near and far, and many enjoyed her annual Christmas letter.

For the last two years of her life, Margaret was in treatment for duodenal cancer. Throughout her very trying illness, she remained positive, hopeful, and more concerned for others than herself.

Margaret is survived by her husband, her daughter, her sister Katherine Litow, her brother Louis Robert Welk II, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 13th at 11am at Christ Church Georgetown (31st and O St, NW Washington, DC 20007).

In lieu of flowers the family requests that gifts be made to Living Hope International (www.livinghopeinternational.org). Please direct donations to the General Fund, check the box “Write us a Comment”, and add a comment that the donation is in memory of Margaret Cundiff.