Margaret Ann Ruch

Margaret (Peggy) Peet Ruch, 83, passed away peacefully and attended by family on August 16, 2015, in Memphis, Tennessee. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Donald Peet of St. Louis, Missouri, she was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, C. Donald Peet, Jr.

Mrs. Ruch was born in St. Louis and was a 1950 graduate of Normandy High School. She was also a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and was voted Sweetheart of Sigma Chi.

Following her marriage in 1954, she taught Kindergarten and first grade at Normandy Elementary School in St. Louis. The family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1962, where Peggy belonged to Church of the Holy Communion. She was a volunteer teacher for the Dyslexia Foundation at Presbyterian Day School in the late 1960's and early 1970's, delivered Christmas bags to veterans at the VA Hospital for the Salvation Army, and was also a member of the Memphis Book Club.

Peggy was known for her love of her family and friends, uncanny memory for birthdays and anniversaries, love of animals, giving spirit, and especially her grace in dealing with the lasting effects of the debilitating illness she suffered in her twenties. She was an inspiration for her family and many friends.

She is survived by her sons, Walter A. "Trey" (Mary Jane) Ruch, III of Perdido Beach, Alabama, and Charles David (Nancy) Ruch of Memphis, Tennessee; grandchildren Faith, Maggie, Christopher, Franklin, and John Phillip Ruch; Emily Boone Ruch; nieces Dr. Emily "Boo" Ruch, Rondi Ruch Lauterbach, and nephew Robert M. Ruch.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, August 20, 1:30 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery, 5239 West Florissant Ave., in St. Louis. A memorial service will be held at Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis, TN on Friday, August 21 at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Church of the Holy Communion, the Memphis Jewish Home, the Salvation Army, or the charity of one's choice.