Peggy Rae Bunnell

Peggy was born in 1940 in Moscow, Idaho, a wheat-farming college town on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. She graduated with honors from the University of Idaho before moving to Los Angeles, where she began her career at Southern California Edison. Peggy married Ray, and in 1964 they welcomed their daughter, Kelli. After their divorce, Peggy met John at Edison, whom she later married. Over the years, Peggy climbed the corporate ladder, becoming the first woman to hold several management positions at Edison. Although she enjoyed her work, she accepted an early retirement package at age 56 to devote herself to two great passions: spoiling her grandchildren and swing dancing.

With Kelli’s family living in Oklahoma and John’s four grandchildren spread across three other states, Peggy and John spent many years traveling—visiting family or flying grandchildren to Los Angeles for beach days and Disneyland adventures. Their travels also gave them ample time to dance, from the West Coast to the East Coast and everywhere in between. They attended music festivals and nightspots across the country, forming lasting friendships with fellow music lovers and musicians. Peggy danced with WWII veterans to big band music, with swing kids during the 1990s swing revival, and with rockabillies to the 1950s music she grew up with. She earned recognition from professional dancers in the entertainment industry as the last original swing dancer still dancing in Los Angeles clubs.

Peggy is survived by her husband John; her daughter Kelli and son-in-law Todd; her grandsons Ryan and Tyler; her stepchildren Jason and Mel; and her four step-grandchildren, Jordan, Ashlyn, Jay, and Amelia.