Margaret Lavelle Roth of Clarkston, founder of the Food Town grocery stores, died on Dec. 24 of natural causes. She founded the first Food Town store in 1944 and watched the chain grow to include locations in Pontiac, Waterford Township, Oxford and Clarkston. Roth started out working in supermarkets as a teenager; with a shrewd business mind and hard work she was able to build her empire. Six years ago, Roth sold her stores to Farmer Jack. Today the only store still around is the Farmer Jack on Sashabaw Road in Clarkston. Mrs. Roth’s full obituary will run in the Jan. 5 edition of The Clarkston News.