Margaret Anne “Peggy” (Beeby) Dolby, age 83 of Huntington, IN, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 20, 2023, at the Waters of Huntington.
Peggy was born on July 18, 1940, to the late Charles E. Beeby and Marjorie (Wolfe) Beeby in Westchester, PA. She later became the adopted daughter of Wilda (Walkinshaw) Bos Beeby. Peggy married Carl Dolby on June 1, 1958, and he preceded her in death on March 2, 1988.
Peggy attended Lincoln Elementary School and was a 1958 graduate of Huntington High School. While at HHS she enjoyed spending time at the Huntington YMCA “Swing Inn”, where she met her high-school sweetheart, future husband and the love of her life, Carl.
Peggy was a licensed hairdresser and had worked at Evelyn’s Beauty Salon. She also worked at Schacht Rubber Co/Lydall Corp; the office of Dr. Joseph Hake, DDS; First National Bank and John Daniel Electric. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church.
Over the years Peggy was involved with the Indiana State Police Wives, Huntington Metro Kiwanis, the Huntington Chapter of ABWA, The Red Hat Society, Rosary Sodality of St. Mary Catholic Church, the Burger King “Breakfast Club”, Huntington Chalk Walk, along with helping with reunions for her Lincoln and Huntington High School classmates. She also served several years as Cub Scout Den Mother and helped as room mother for each of her children while at Central Elementary School.
Peggy was a very talented artist who participated in helping repaint the original tile work during the restoration of the Hotel Lafontaine along with painting her own original artwork. Together with Carl, they spent many happy years making furniture and toys for their children and grandchildren, along with repurposing old furniture and decorating items with her tole painting skills. Later she enjoyed sharing her artwork (and encouraging others to share theirs) at the Huntington Chalk Walk, and by painting rocks to place around town representing “Huntington Rocks”. Along with painting, Peggy also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, quilting, drawing cartoons, cooking, decorating, gardening, and was a voracious reader and most especially loved jigsaw puzzles! Each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren could always count on helping “Grammy” with a puzzle any time they visited! They also spent many overnight stays where they enjoyed cooking, playing games, digging for buried treasure in the Fairy Garden and climbing the steps in the back yard to spend time on the “The Chicken Porch”!
Peggy never knew a stranger. Everyone she met usually became a friend or an “adopted” member of her family. She truly loved each and every one of them like family, from her children’s friends who hung out at her house during their school years calling her “Mom”, to her Burger King breakfast club gang to her neighbors, to friends she met on Facebook, and even random people she met on the street. Because she had been adopted, she wanted to make sure everyone she knew felt loved and like “part of her family”.
Peggy is survived by two sons, Greg (Theresa Meyers) Dolby, Warren, IN, Tim (Sherry Miller) Dolby, Huntington, IN; two daughters, Lori (Gerald) Ingle, Huntington, IN, Lisa (Mike) Leist, Warren, IN; grandchildren, Benjamin (Kristin) Dolby, Stephen (Colleen) Dolby, Peter (Ashley) Dolby, Anna (Matthew) Newsome, David (Allison) Dolby, Kassandre Meyers, Michelle (Brian) Dill, Matthew (Gabby Clontz) Ingle, Michael (Natalie) Ingle, Jennifer (Justin) Jenkins, Jared (Audra) Hill, Justin (Tressa) Dolby, Jordan Dolby, Eryn Dolby, Evalyn Dolby, Declan Dolby; and 22 great-grandchildren. Peggy is also survived by siblings, Sandra, twins, Suzanne and Suzette and Bobby, all of California.
Along with her parents she was preceded in death by two brothers, Vernon, and Charles; and one sister, Miriam.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at McElhaney Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, IN.
Additional calling hours will be held on Friday, August 25, 2023, from 900 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. followed by an 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary Catholic Church, 903 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, IN, 46750, with Fr. Thomas Zehr and Fr. Tony Steinacker presiding.
A burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Huntington, IN.
In Lieu of flowers Memorials can be made to the PAL (Police Athletic League) in care of McElhaney Funeral Home 715 N. Jefferson St. Huntington, IN.
McElhaney Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson St., Huntington, IN is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.mcelhaneyhartfuneralhome.com
