Obituary for Margaret L. Wallace
Margaret “Peggy” Ludwig Wallace, 90, of Granby, beloved partner of Daniel “Danny” Ross, died Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at River Ridge of Avon. She was born November 12, 1932 in St. Lawrence, PA, daughter of the late Earl Franklin and Anna Magdalene (Leinbach) Ludwig. Prior to her 20 years in Granby, she lived in Simsbury for nearly 40 years. For most of their lives together, Peggy and Danny shared a vacation cottage on Highland Lake in New Hampshire where they fished for white perch in the summers and snowmobiled in the winters.
During college summers, Peggy was a “Savage,” a term used for the young, summer employees who worked for the Park Service in Yellowstone. She loved to tell stories of her adventures including close encounters with bears and bison and of sing-alongs by campfires.
Peggy was a proud graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, class of 1956, where she studied organ, piano, voice and choral directing. Peggy came from a long line of organists and musicians starting with Johannes Leinbach, Sr. who was an organist in Germany before settling in the Oley Valley, Berks County, PA in 1723. Her passion for the arts was passed to her adored daughter Kathy for whom Peggy provided a childhood of dance, theatre and musical training.
Peggy was the Organist and Choir Director at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Simsbury where she staged many a Christmas pageant and choral performance. Peggy made many lifelong friends during her tenure at Shepherd of the Hills and played for many of the weddings of her friends’ children. Peggy also worked at Malcolm Black Associates as the Office Manager where she met Danny. She believed in hard work, often holding multiple jobs to provide for her family.
Peggy also believed in fun, whether playing cards with friends and family or gently spooking the neighborhood kids on Halloween, one of her favorite holidays. She loved Mickey and his friends from early picture shows and her beloved Snow White from the time she saw the movie with her dearly loved aunts, Evelyn and Geneva Leinbach. In her youth, she lived through the great depression and a world war in which her brothers fought overseas. She wore miniskirts in the 60s and settled into life as a modern woman who loved the Beatles as much as Bach. She treasured her travels to Alaska and Europe, and family vacations on Block Island.
Peggy had a zest for life which she met with tremendous energy and enthusiasm for new experiences. She was an excellent cook who was still tackling new recipes in her 90th year. She was a lover of nature, particularly of birds. Her bird feeding stations in Granby were affectionately referred to as “Peggy’s Smorgasbord” and included everything from fruit for the orioles to mealworms for the bluebirds. She was happy always to see bears on the back deck even though they destroyed many a bird feeder.
In addition to Danny, her loving life partner of 45 years, Peggy leaves her daughter, Kathleen Wallace Wee and her husband Robert Chuan Wee of Millersville, PA, and Danny’s sons, Scott and Timothy Ross. She was the mother to many beloved pets including Parker, Elliot, Cheetah and several grand-dogs. She was predeceased by her siblings, James Robert, Lorna Grace, and Paul Franklin Ludwig. She was an excellent friend to many and cherished the cards, letters and photos she received over her long life.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, May 2nd from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury.
Donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by clicking HERE
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During college summers, Peggy was a “Savage,” a term used for the young, summer employees who worked for the Park Service in Yellowstone. She loved to tell stories of her adventures including close encounters with bears and bison and of sing-alongs by campfires.
Peggy was a proud graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, class of 1956, where she studied organ, piano, voice and choral directing. Peggy came from a long line of organists and musicians starting with Johannes Leinbach, Sr. who was an organist in Germany before settling in the Oley Valley, Berks County, PA in 1723. Her passion for the arts was passed to her adored daughter Kathy for whom Peggy provided a childhood of dance, theatre and musical training.
Peggy was the Organist and Choir Director at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Simsbury where she staged many a Christmas pageant and choral performance. Peggy made many lifelong friends during her tenure at Shepherd of the Hills and played for many of the weddings of her friends’ children. Peggy also worked at Malcolm Black Associates as the Office Manager where she met Danny. She believed in hard work, often holding multiple jobs to provide for her family.
Peggy also believed in fun, whether playing cards with friends and family or gently spooking the neighborhood kids on Halloween, one of her favorite holidays. She loved Mickey and his friends from early picture shows and her beloved Snow White from the time she saw the movie with her dearly loved aunts, Evelyn and Geneva Leinbach. In her youth, she lived through the great depression and a world war in which her brothers fought overseas. She wore miniskirts in the 60s and settled into life as a modern woman who loved the Beatles as much as Bach. She treasured her travels to Alaska and Europe, and family vacations on Block Island.
Peggy had a zest for life which she met with tremendous energy and enthusiasm for new experiences. She was an excellent cook who was still tackling new recipes in her 90th year. She was a lover of nature, particularly of birds. Her bird feeding stations in Granby were affectionately referred to as “Peggy’s Smorgasbord” and included everything from fruit for the orioles to mealworms for the bluebirds. She was happy always to see bears on the back deck even though they destroyed many a bird feeder.
In addition to Danny, her loving life partner of 45 years, Peggy leaves her daughter, Kathleen Wallace Wee and her husband Robert Chuan Wee of Millersville, PA, and Danny’s sons, Scott and Timothy Ross. She was the mother to many beloved pets including Parker, Elliot, Cheetah and several grand-dogs. She was predeceased by her siblings, James Robert, Lorna Grace, and Paul Franklin Ludwig. She was an excellent friend to many and cherished the cards, letters and photos she received over her long life.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, May 2nd from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury.
Donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by clicking HERE
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