ROCHESTER, Mich. – An irreplaceable figure in the history of Oakland University Pioneers/Golden Grizzlies Athletics, Margaret B. Lepley passed in her sleep at her Green Valley, Arizona home on Saturday, January 14 at the incredible age of 105.

Born in Elroy, Wisconsin on April 25, 1917, Lepley attended a one-room schoolhouse in the farming and dairy community of Hanover as a child, where her father operated the general store and the town's post office.

Graduating from Beloit Memorial High School in 1934, she furthered her education at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and was employed by the Bell Telephone Company.

Margaret married fellow Wisconsin native Hollie L. Lepley on September 12, 1940 and the couple relocated to Michigan and began their tenure at Oakland University in 1959, two years after the school's founding.

Hollie L. Lepley served as the University's inaugural Director of Athletics for 13 years until 1972 and is responsible for launching Oakland's first athletic programs, which came in the form of basketball, cross country, soccer and swimming in 1964.

During this time, Margaret was a fixture around Oakland's athletic happenings and was an active member of University Women's Clubs and volunteered at the Veterans Hospital, schools and libraries.

She enjoyed music, books, needlework and the arts, and as her son, John, shared in a January 17 e-mail, "She had a long, enjoyable life and loved her years volunteering and taking part in OU activities with Hollie and wives of other OU staff. She was especially proud of having been inducted into the Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor."

When her husband retired from Oakland University in 1979, Margaret and Hollie moved to Englewood, Colorado and remained in the Centennial State until his passing in 2001 at the age of 89.

Margaret is survived by her two sons, John, 80 of Tucson, Arizona, and Chuck, 78 of Denver, Colorado, as well as four grandchildren.

Inheriting a love of the game from their father, both Chuck and John still play golf when they can.

Continuing the legacies of Hollie and Margaret, the Lepley Hall of Honor recognizes the best student-athletes and coaches in Oakland University history with an annual induction ceremony. This year's ceremony, the 32^nd edition of the event, will be held on Saturday, February 4 at 6 p.m. at the Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac.