Peggy J. Bowlby, 84, of Bedford and Hyannis, died November 30, 2014, in Wilmington.
Mrs. Bowlby was born and raised on a dairy and cotton farm in Lavonia, Georgia. She entered high school and attended Berry College in Rome, Georgia where she earned her degree in education. She furthered her education by moving to Boston to attend Harvard University on a scholarship. While studying at Harvard, she met Roy Bowlby at the Somerville Baptist Church and after a whirlwind romance they married seven months later.
She and Roy moved to Bedford with their three children where they built their own home. She took her love for education to the Somerville and Carlisle Public Schools where she taught for 25 years. After retiring from teaching in Carlisle in 1983, she moved with Roy to Hyannis.
Mrs. Bowlby remained very active, especially in the church, throughout her retirement. She enjoyed teaching at Sunday school, was a deacon and the Secretary of finances for the Hyannis Baptist Church.
Her open door policy at her Cape home kept the family surrounded by family and friends.
She is predeceased by her beloved husband, Roy I. Bowlby who passed away in 1992.
She is survived by her loving children, Deborah Larsen and her husband, Guy of Bedford, Diana Mahoney and her husband, John of Bedford, and Eric Bowlby and his fiancée Pam Hayhurst of San Diego, CA, her sister Rose Dickson of TX and sister-in-law Betty Hall of GA. Also survived by her adoring grandchildren Niccole and Danielle Larsen, Madeleine Doney and Sheena, Jake, Joyce and Michael Mahoney and three great grandchildren, Luke, Jaxon and Evan.
Her funeral service will be held on Sat., Dec. 6, at The First Baptist Church of Bedford, 151 Concord Rd., Bedford, at 10 A.M.
A memorial service is planned in Hyannis at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Alzheimer's Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 or San Diego Canyon Lands at www.sdcanyonlands.org.