Peggy was born on February 21, 1959, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, to Gene and Wilma “Jean” Swihart. She grew up in Independence, Missouri and graduated from Van Horn High School in 1977. Peggy was united in marriage to Donald “Don” Dodge on April 19, 1986. She worked for the Social Security Administration where she started as a typist and retired as a claims’ authorizer in 2010. She gave thirty years of service to the Social Security Administration.
Peggy was active with charity work and was an advocate for the Rose Brooks Center. She also encouraged pet adoptions. She joined quilting clubs and was a remarkable quilter and artist. In her younger years, she was an adventurer having visited Iceland, Scotland, England, France, Montserrat, the Turks and Caicos, and Hawaii. She hiked the Grand Canyon twice, snorkeled in the Bahamas, and skied in the Rocky Mountains.
She was beloved by her family and friends and was a kind and caring individual who always put others first. Her thoughtfulness was noticed by everyone. She was brave and strong and was a role model for others who faced adversity.
Those left to honor her memory are her loving husband of 37 years, Don; daughter Justine (Rob); two grandchildren Cyrus and Sabrina; siblings Randy (Loretta) Swihart; Jane (Jim) Rouchka; and brother-in-law, Karl Garrard. As well as nieces and nephews: Jamie Garrard, Nate Swihart, Micah Swihart, and Lauren Webb, all of whom she greatly loved and adored.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Susan (Garrard).
Memorials in Peggy’s name may be made to the Rose Brooks Center or the KC Pet Project.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mtmoriah.net for the Dodge family.
