Margaret "Peggy" Davies' Obituary
Margaret Walsh Davies, born July 10th, 1935, passed away on May 7th, 2025. She died in her own home - her three sons, Kert, Eric, and Geoffrey near her until the end.
At the age of 89, it is safe to say Peggy Davies had seen the world change in profound ways, but she never stopped learning, or fighting for change. From her roots in Baltimore, the daughter of a fireman, she graduated from St. Martin’s Elementary School in 1949, Notre Dame Preparatory School in 1953, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1957 from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA. Her interest in math led her to doing pioneering computer work for the NSA in the late 50’s, and IBM in 1960. Meanwhile, she married Roland Crocker Davies, Jr. in 1960, and moved to West Philadelphia.
Philadelphia would be her home for the next 40 years, renovating a house in Society Hill for her growing family in 1962. Three sons followed, in 1963, 1965, and 1968. Happiness ensued. Or equal parts chaos and happiness, with three kids, a large dog, and a working architect, all crammed into a small row house on American Street.
Peggy thrived in Philadelphia - organizing neighborhood associations, supporting the local Public schools, and working on the Board of Elections for years. She was a tutor, a tour guide, an office manager, a substitute teacher, and a warrior on the frontlines of numerous social causes. But she was perhaps most well known for baking gingerbread men for Halloween - her house on American Street was mobbed by trick-or-treaters every year. A Baltimore girl by birth, she made Philadelphia her home and her cause.
She passed away at her home in Sherwood Forest, Md., where she had retired with her late husband. Peggy was cared for by Geoffrey continuously, for the last 6 years, which was an incredible gift. She is survived not only by her three sons, but also her four grandkids, her daughters-in-law, multiple nephews and nieces, and a legacy of joy and hard work.
She will be missed. More than we can describe.
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