Peggy Lea Elder

Peggy Lea (Ritchie) Elder, 64, of Pleasantville, Ohio went to be with the Lord on July 18, 2025. She was born on March 18, 1961 in Lancaster, Ohio to John and Judy (McKenzie) Ritchie.

She graduated from Amanda-Clearcreek High School in 1979, where she was a majorette and active in 4-H. That same year, she won the Grand Champion steer at the Fairfield County Fair and was crowned Amanda Ohio's FFA Queen. In high school, she also graduated from Nonny's Modeling School, which led her into becoming the runner-up at the Miss Ohio Pageant. She started college at Nelsonville Hocking Tech, then transferred to Ohio University for Business Management.

Peggy worked at Piedmont and US Airways in Dayton, Cleveland, and Columbus airports for 23 years where she made many friends and created lasting memories of trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, and all over continental America. She shared that love of traveling with her family on their vacations to Florida, Yellowstone, and many cabin trips throughout the years. Working at Fairfield Union Local Schools and most recently Rushville Middle School as a cashier, but so much more, she left behind many beloved friends and generations of kids who loved her. She loved taking photos, mostly of her family, of which we're eternally grateful for now. If there was a good auction going on, you could be sure she was looking for antiques to decorate her home. You would find her annually enjoying the sights and sounds of the Dublin Irish Festival with her husband, sharing her love of Irish music. Every Sunday felt like Christmas for her parents when she, and her husband Karl, would show up bringing them food and gifts. She has been reunited in heaven with her forever dog, Quarter.

She was a member of Life Church for many years where she received her ministry license through the Lancaster School of Ministry. She was a devout Christian, spreading the Word and scriptures wherever she went. With the gift of a donated heart, she was blessed with extra time, which her family cherished. Many thanks to her medical team at OSU Ross Heart Hospital where she was the 721st heart recipient on January 24, 2025.

Peggy is lovingly remembered by her husband Karl, her children, Raybecca, Aubrey, and Johnny; her father and mother, John and Judy Ritchie; brother and sister-in-law, Mick and Lisa Ritchie; brother-in-law, Kevin (Betty) Elder; sister-in-law, Beverly Sturm (Jerry Shumate); aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, countless friends; and her dog, Oakley. She is preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Howard and Miriam Elder;  sister-in-law, Kathleen Wise Elder. 

 A time to visit with Peggy's family will be Wednesday, July 23 from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 PM at Morgan Funeral Home, 124 Fort Street, Bremen, Ohio 43107. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 24 at 11 AM in Grace Lutheran Church, 5575 Cincinnati-Zanesville Road NE, Lancaster, OH 43130 with 1 hour prior visitation. Graveside services will follow at West Rushville Cemetery. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice.