YORKTOWN - Peggy Turnage, 85, passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

She was born and raised in Newport News and was a 1942 graduate of Newport News High School. She was a resident of York County for the past 30 years. Peggy worked as a bookkeeper for Dr. Landon Stubbs for over 40 years and then found her true passion – selling cuckoo clocks at Busch Gardens for 22 years. She considered herself an unpaid "professional volunteer" – spending thousands of hours serving on various committees, at her church and in York County. She was a lifelong member of Orcutt Baptist Church for over 85 years. She served as an usher, was on the hospitality committee, and was on the flower committee for over 30 years. Each week after the Sunday services, she would make small personal arrangements from the alter flowers and deliver them with a smile to those who were unable to leave their homes.

After moving to York County in 1982, she became active in many civic organizations: York County Historical Committee, Celebrate Yorktown Committee, Yorktown Historical Society, the Yorktown Women's Club, the APVA/Preservation Society, York Poquoson Triad, and her favorite – the Fourth of July Committee, where she served as secretary for 25 years. She spent many hours volunteering in the gift shops at the Watermen's Museum and at the Yorktown Victory Center. In 2007, she was honored as one of 12 York County "Citizens of the Year" for her volunteer service. Recently, she was appointed to serve on the Board of the Senior Center of York, where she loved to spend her time socializing with her many friends. Her most favorite activity was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Peggy was preceded in death by her mother, Jeanette Hehl Lenz Tomlin; her sister, Shirley Lenz Fowler; and the love of her life, her husband, Rudie.

Left to cherish wonderful memories of her are her two children, Brenda Schatzel (Leo), and John Turnage (Eileen); six beloved grandchildren, Michael (Noelle), Brian, Katie (Sean), Stephanie (Johnny), Jennifer, and Troy; and her two precious great-grandchildren, Isla and Hayden.

Her family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight, May 20, at Amory Funeral Home, Grafton. A memorial service will be noon Monday, May 21, at Orcutt Baptist Church, Newport News. Burial will follow at Peninsula Memorial Park. Because Peggy was referred to as "Miss Red, White and Blue," it would be a kind gesture for all who attend her visitation and memorial service, to wear the colors of red, white and/or blue to honor her and her patriotism. Black was not her color. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

Published in Daily Press from May 20 to May 21, 2012. View Guest Book