Peggy P. Pearce

Reidsville –Peggy Primrose Pearce, 89, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at the Hospice Home of Rockingham County. The memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2014, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Reidsville with the Rev. Dr. Richard Miles officiating. Interment will be at a later date at the Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery in Cumberland, Maryland. Peggy was born in London, England on January 20, 1925, to the late Albert and Alice Stoner. She and her family survived the Battle of Britain, spending many nights in the subways and having their home bombed out twice. Peggy joined the British Land Army in 1943, which was a government effort to have young ladies work from farms while the farmer's sons went to war. While in that service, she met her husband-to-be, Jack Pearce, in Cornwall, England as he was training for the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Jack was wounded and sent stateside. In 1946 Peggy arranged a meeting with Eleanor Roosevelt when she was visiting in London and Mrs. Roosevelt, moved by the story of the separated couple, arranged for Peggy to go to the United States to be married to Jack. They were married on May 17, 1946 and raised four children over the next 43 years until Jack passed away in 1989. Peggy enjoyed life with many friends in Southern Maryland, Cumberland, Maryland and Reidsville, North Carolina. She loved picking blue crabs, singing in her barbershop quartet, books and could beat anyone in Wheel of Fortune. She is survived by her sister, Eileen Conrad; daughter, Gail Talbott; sons, Patrick Pearce and wife Jackie, Michael Pearce and wife Rita and Tony Pearce and wife Paola; grandchildren, Kim Flores, Jim Talbott, Patrick Pearce, Chris Pearce, Sam Pearce, Ben Pearce, Michael Chinneck, Michelle Chinneck and Renato Scudero as well as 11 great grandchildren. The family wishes to thank the loving care Peggy received at High Grove Long Term Care Center as well as the Hospice Center of Rockingham County. We also want to thank her loving family at St. Thomas Episcopal Church for all of their support and prayers. Memorials may be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church and Hospice Center of Rockingham County.