Peggy Odessa Lowder Dewing

1920 - 2010

Peggy Odessa Lowder Dewing passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010.

Peggy was born in Stanley County, N.C., on Dec. 7, 1920. Her parents, Robert Lowder, Sr. and Sally Kelly Lowder, died when she was young and she was raised by her half brother, Lineberry Lowder and his wife Blanche. She was proud to have been employed as a waitress by the finest hotel in Concord, N.C., serving the executives of the Cannon Linen Mills who frequented the restaurant.

Just after the start of World War II she met and married Edward "Bud" Dewing; they were married almost 60 years prior to his passing in 2002. Peg and Bud traveled much of the United States while he served in the United States Air Force, settling in Ojai after Bud's retirement.

While her children were growing Peggy took an active part in their PTA and Little League activities and worked outside the home from time to time. In the mid 1960s she went to work as a galley operator on the sport fishing boat Star Angler, later working on the Ranger 85. She loved the work and the open sea and all the wonderful passengers she met over the years. Peggy and Bud enjoyed many happy retirement years together traveling, making many trips to Hawaii, North Carolina, Las Vegas and Laughlin. They were happy puttering around their home and spending time with their grandchildren and watching televised baseball and golf. Family and friends were most important in Peggy's life and she cherished the time she spent with them above all else. She felt a strong sense of respect, fairness and tolerance toward all her fellow beings, regardless of ethnic background, lifestyle or culture.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sisters and brothers, Polly, Ludy, Daisy, Claude, Otis, Zella, and Robert, Jr., and her granddaughter, Elizabeth Penney.

She is survived by her daughter and son-inlaw, Penny Dewing Penney and Lawrence Penney; son and daughter-in-law, Ed Dewing and Patti O'Neill-Dewing; grandchildren, Jennifer Penny Evans, Chelsie O'Neill-Dewing, Lindsay O'Neill-Dewing; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Please join us for a celebration of Peggy's long and eventful life at the Dewing family home on Creek Road, Ojai, on Saturday, Oct. 30 starting around 2 p.m. Call 805-649-1493 for details.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home & Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. Condolences may be left at www.TedMayrFuneralHome.com.