Enjoyed church activities and the beach
Published May 16, 2019
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Margaret Dunham Estes, 84, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother died peacefully on May 6, 2019 at her home in Williamsburg, Va. with her husband, Richard H. Estes by her side.
Margaret “Peggy” Estes, daughter of the late Carl and Clara Holmes Dunham, was born on February 28, 1935 in Pittsfield, Mass. She was raised in Dalton, Mass. by her mother, who worked as a school teacher to support Peggy and her two brothers, George and William, along with her sister, Nancy.
Peggy and Richard met at a Dalton High School Sadie Hawkins dance in 1951. They were married on October 22, 1955. Peggy worked at New England Telephone while Richard was in Boston attending Northeastern University. Upon Richard’s graduation from college, the couple began their married life together in Dalton and then moved to Pittsburgh for a job with U.S. Steel. Their first son, the late Richard D. Estes (1957-2017) was born while they were living in Pittsfield. From 1959 to 1995, North Reading, Mass. became the family home and Peggy and Dick had two more sons, Paul W. Estes and Gary S. Estes.
Peggy was active in St. Theresa Catholic Church, serving on various committees and the church council. She enjoyed playing women’s softball, tennis leagues, and bowling leagues while being very active in raising her three sons. She attended thousands of sporting events between baseball, basketball and soccer over the years, and loved a competitive Sunday afternoon family Wiffle ball game. Besides being a wonderful homemaker, cook and mother, she was an active member of the North Reading Garden Club. She could make a bed and iron a shirt like no one else, and her mashed potatoes and black and white cake were always a Thanksgiving favorite.
In 1995, Peggy and Dick became snow-birds, splitting their time between Port Charlotte, Fla. and Litchfield, Maine. In both places Peggy loved to create beautiful flower gardens throughout the properties. She continued to enjoy church activities, playing dominos, the beach and wonderful sunshine. In April 2016, Peg and Dick moved to Williamsburg, Va. to be closer to family.
Peggy leaves her husband of 63 years, Richard H. Estes, and two sons and daughters-in-law, Paul and Alison Estes of Pinehurst, N.C. and Gary and Susan Estes of Leadville, Colo. She was predeceased by her son, Richard D. Estes and leaves one daughter-in-law, Donna Estes of Williamsburg, Va. and five grandchildren: Amy Miller, Kelly Karamanov, Colleen Estes, Andrea Estes and Katie Estes along with two great-grandchildren: Estelle and Sean Miller of Williamsburg, Va.
A funeral Mass was offered on Friday, May 10 at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham (Old St. Bede), Williamsburg, Va.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) or St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 63 Winter St., in North Reading, Mass. Condolences may be shared at www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com.
