Margaret "Peggy" Ellen Walker

Margaret Ellen (Peggy) Walker was born in Washington, DC, the fourth of five children born to Leo Joseph and Mary Packett Walker. Peggy received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education from the University of Virginia and taught special education in elementary schools and worked with children with various disabilities in summer camps and other settings since receiving her degrees. Most recently, she taught at St. James School in Fall Church, VA and was the lead resource teacher since 2015 until the time of her death in 2019.

Peggy was highly regarded by everyone who knew her and especially remembered for her great kindness, generosity, and dry sense of humor. If it was in her power, she always went out of her way to help another. Peggy was always all about kids. In high school she tutored disadvantaged students in Washington, DC. She loved all her students and often enjoyed sharing humorous anecdotes regarding the things they said or did. Peggy recognized the learning differences, but always saw and emphasized each student’s potential and capabilities. Many students and their parents have commented on the impact that Peggy had on their success in school, increasing their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Peggy was fiercely loyal and always made time for her friends and family. She especially loved and enjoyed her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephew. She was never too busy to babysit or just play with Jami and Walker, both of whom lived nearby.

Peggy loved to read, swim, travel, and spend time with family and friends. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2018 and after a valiant fight went home to be with the Lord on December 22, 2019. Peggy was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Robert T. Walker. She is survived by three sisters, Patricia A. Walker, (Mary) Susan Walker, and Theresa W. Bonfils [James], nieces Anna Walker Steinmetz [Alan], Laurie Beth Walker, Mary Elizabeth Bagnall [Kevin], Catherine Bonfils Guarriello [Matthew], Kristina M. Bonfils, two nephews (Robert T. Walker, Jr and Tyrell M. Walker), three great nieces(Alexis and Allison Steinmetz, and Jami Bagnall), one great nephew (Walker Guarriello) and a host of cousins and friends. Peggy was given to all of us for far too brief a time. We will miss her greatly but are very grateful to have known her – a wonderful, unique, loving, and generous person.

Visitation will be held at Murphy’s Funeral Home in Arlington, VA, on Thursday, January 2, 2020, from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Peggy’s life will be celebrated at a funeral Mass at St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church, VA on Friday, January 3, 2020 at 1:00 PM with a reception at the church from 11:15 to 12:15. Interment will be held at Fairfax Memorial Park immediately following the Mass. A reception will be held at the home of Jim and Terri Bonfils, 22009 Crested Quail Drive, Ashburn VA 20148, 4:00 to 7:00 PM. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in honor of Peggy (Margaret Ellen) to the American Lung Association.