Margaret Ann Carter

Margaret Ann Carter, better known as Peggy, of Rancho Cucamonga, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026, at the age of 79, surrounded by her loving family. A devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Peggy lived a life defined by kindness, resilience, and quiet generosity.

Born on October 23, 1946, in California, Peggy was the eldest of nine children born to the late August and Margaret Wheeler. She deeply loved her siblings and became so proud of the Wheeler family's many accomplishments. Peggy deeply valued education and earned her Master of Public Administration (MPA), which supported a long career in public service to counties in both Northern and Southern California. She served in many roles throughout her career and once proudly saved San Diego County one million dollars in the budget.

While living in Sonoma County, Peggy formed strong friendships with the World Runners and joined a cross-country relay team that raised $40,000 to build a well in Africa. It was there that she met her husband, Skip Carter. In 1983, they welcomed their son, Leigh Carter, and four years later their daughter, Connie (Carter) Hutchins.

Peggy enriched her children’s lives with a deep love for art and music, creating imaginative art projects and driving them to countless music lessons. She shared her talent for sewing by crafting soccer banners and beautiful quilts. Cooking, ceramics, wire jewelry, stained glass, glass beadwork, and fused glass were among the many creative outlets she explored and mastered. Her generous spirit shone through her artwork, her willingness to teach others, and the warm, creative home she built for family and friends.

In 2021, after the birth of her second grandchild, Peggy moved from her longtime home in La Mesa, California, to Rancho Cucamonga with Connie, her husband David, and their children, Cooper and Kate. There, she fulfilled a dream by creating her own sewing studio, complete with five sewing machines, many bolts of fabric, and enough thread to stock a small shop. She continued quilting and creating beautiful pieces until her passing while enjoying the energy of her grandchildren.

Her legacy lives on in the lives she shaped, the family she cherished, and the countless quiet acts of compassion she offered without seeking recognition. Peggy’s life was a beautiful example of love in action, and she will be deeply missed and forever remembered.