Margaret "Pat" Kingsland

Margaret (Pat) Crosby Paul was born on January 31, 1930, spending her early years growing up on her family’s property in Chestnut Hill, a suburb outside of Philadelphia, PA, and as a young adult at Diamondback Cove along the Miles River in Easton, MD. She was married on January 3, 1953 to Harald S. Kingsland, Sr. She was devoted to her husband with whom she had four children: Harald Jr., Leita, Bill, and John. She also has 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She passed peacefully at the age of 95 on October 25, 2025. Pat was thoughtful, kind, with a sunny disposition and memorable to all her knew her. She loved dogs from the time she was a young girl and her husband gifted her a collie puppy shortly after their engagement. She loved playing tennis, bridge, and was very active in her community and church.

As a young girl, Pat attended the Miquon elementary school, co-founded by her aunt Margaret Irwin. In her very early pre-school years, she and her brother Peter lived with their Uncle John and Aunt Leita from 1933-1934. Her family moved in with her grandfather Henry Neill Paul at 550 E Gravers Lane in Chestnut Hill after their grandmother passed away in 1934. The estate had large gardens, a tennis court, and a house with 24 rooms, including 11 bedrooms and 3 libraries, one devoted entirely to Shakespeare. Her grandfather was a noted Shakespearean scholar and author of the book “The Royal Play of MacBeth” and an anthology titled “John Paull and Some of His Descendants”. She always loved reading and often borrowed books from her grandfather’s extensive library. Pat loved school and was very popular and easily made friends wherever she went. Pat’s oldest brother Bill instilled a spirit of adventure in her, teaching her how to ride a bike, drive a car, and taking her along for daring airplane rides. Pat had an inauspicious start to learning to drive, getting the family car wedged into two trees, but soon was driving the rest of the family to school in their jeep (purchased by her father to the exasperation of her mother) – paying for gas was a continual challenge! Her older brother Jim ensured his younger sister studied hard and challenged herself intellectually. Pat and her younger brother Peter were inseparable and did everything together, she often said they were like “twins.” Pat played hockey, baseball, and particularly loved playing tennis throughout her life.

After her father and two older brothers returned from serving in World War II, the family purchased a farm and summer home in Easton, Maryland, in 1946, where they vacationed and later became their permanent home. Pat graduated from the Germantown Friends School in 1948 and attended Smith College for three years until she was engaged in 1951, living in the Baldwin House. Pat was on the Dean’s List her first two years; she was a German major and took many literature and science classes. Her best friend was Peggy Pancost and it was in Easton that she met her future husband, Harald. They loved sailing together, even when the boat capsized! After getting engaged and while Harald was serving overseas during the Korean War, Pat toured Europe with her Uncle John and Aunt Leita, stopping to visit noted colleagues of her uncle across the continent, with whom he had collaborated as part of his historical work to develop a polio vaccine with Dr. Salk. She often spoke fondly of her adventures in Europe, having dinner with friends in Paris, taking German lessons, and learning about wood carving in Bavaria. She hurried home early from her trip to meet Harald upon his discharge from the Army, and they married on January 3, 1953. They lived in Baltimore, MD, before moving to Catonsville in 1960.

As a mother of four, Pat was active in the Catonsville community with the local PTA, scouting, and the “Catonsville Women’s Club.” She and her husband Harald were founding members of the original chapel, now Church of Christ the King, where she held multiple offices, including as a Sunday school teacher, Secretary, and member of the Vestry. In later years, she was an active member with the Senior Seekers and particularly loved attending Wednesday Bible Study. She enjoyed spending time with many neighborhood friends as part of the “Lunch Bunch” and she volunteered for years at the Catonsville Library where she enjoyed reading to children, and helping maintain and organize the library archives.

One of Pat’s favorite stories was when she and Harald took all four of their children and a favorite niece on a month-long trip around the U.S., seeing the Grand Canyon and other iconic sites, as well as touching base in Mexico and Canada. She kept a detailed diary of the trip recounting the family’s visit to the Alamo, Carlsbad Caverns, Painted Desert, and Yellowstone. Pat and Harald also loved to play bridge and especially playing with other couples in a “Duplicate” style tournament with up to 12 players. This particular tournament sometimes lasted long enough that their children were able to secretly set off on adventures, including a drive from Catonsville to Diamondback Cove and back in one evening to visit their grandparents with their parents none the wiser.

Pat was a kind and gracious person who always cared about people and was engaged with them wherever they were, whether her friends, family, or members of the community. She was an enthusiastic and fun storyteller with a great sense of humor and was instrumental in passing along the family tradition of puns inherited from her father. She enjoyed movies and music from the 1940’s and 1950s, in particular. She loved crossword puzzles, word jumbles, and quiz shows. She loved mystery stories and continued to reread her favorite Agatha Christie novels throughout her later years. She loved knitting and cross stitch, mostly from her favorite seat on the couch in front of the picture window at the family’s home on Chalfonte Drive, in Catonsville. Over the years she gifted many beautiful pieces to members of the family, including stunning landscapes, children’s artwork, and an amazing replica of “The Great Wave” woodblock print by the Japanese artist Hokusai. She loved celebrating family occasions and holidays, diligently preparing up to 21 different stockings for every member of the family, in addition to Christmas gifts.

Pat is sorely missed. She was gracious and complimentary and loved making time to talk and befriend everyone she met. Her kindness and thoughtfulness were appreciated by so many. Her love for her family and friends has left an indelible mark and many happy memories. One of her favorite quotes, which is also wise advice, was “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” May we all follow her example and show kindness, respect, and flexibility to all whom we encounter in our lives. We are thankful to have known and loved such a wonderful friend, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Services will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:00 am at Christ the King Episcopal Church, 1930 Brookdale Road, Baltimore, MD 21244. A light lunch and refreshments will be served immediately afterward in the church’s Reed Hall.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the church. Checks may be made payable to Christ the King (Pat Kingsland in the memo) 1930 Brookdale Road, Baltimore, MD 21244.