Peggie GREULING

GREULING, Peggie E. Peggie E. Greuling passed away peacefully March 11 at age 93. She is survived by her devoted husband Herb Greuling of Roswell; children Shelley Smith of Nanuet, New York, Shannon Smith of Lake Butler, Florida, and Sheri Isaacs of Alpharetta; four grandchildren Ebben Smith, Samantha Coleman, Ali Manning, and Robin E. Williams; six great-grandchildren. Peggie was born in Virginia, Minnesota, daughter of the town doctor. She received a degree in Music Education from Northwestern University and a Masters degree from University of Illinois Normal. She taught music in public schools in Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, Florida, and Oregon. Her primary instruments were saxophone, trumpet, and violin, but she was able to play every instrument in a school band and orchestra. She also taught violin to children as young as 6 years old using the Suzuki Method. In the early 1960's, Peggie arranged music for the Greuling Family Band. She and Herb and their three children played at county fairs and PTA and Lion's Club meetings. They tried out for Ted Mack's Amateur Hour and would have performed on that early television show had schedules allowed. Peggie wrote music as well. She wrote songs about America and her beloved home in the Rogue Valley of Oregon. Her music was performed at concerts of the Ashland City Band and the Roswell Ramblers Chorus. Peggie caused quite a stir when she was the featured saxophone soloist with the Kalle Orchestra in Germany. At the time it was unheard of for a woman to play a wind instrument. Peggie came by her musical talent honestly. Her mother Esther Gomberg Goodman and uncle Louis Gomberg were well-respected musicians in the 1910's. During the Cold War, she once smuggled western currency into Poland to help the starving citizens. Peggie cultivated an acre of vegetables and fruit in Oregon, and was surrounded by a bounty of lush flowers. She created a beautiful koi pond with a waterfall. Peggie was a proud Air Force wife and will be buried at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.