Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Marguerite Dressler was born in West Branch, Michigan, on June 25, 1928, to the late Henry M. and Rose Dressler.  During her childhood our country was in the midst of The Great Depression and, like most Americans, her parents were without adequate employment.  She was 13 when, following Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Government began a massive recruitment of employees to the Washington DC area, to prepare for war, and her family joined The Largest Migration in Our Nation's History by moving there.  They settled in Riverdale, MD. 

In June 1946 Peggy, as she was known most of her life, graduated from Bladensburg High School at the top of her class of about 120.  Her perfect 4.0 grade point average is believed to be the first received there.  Many years later, with the introduction of computers and e-mails to the business world, she attended classes at Strayer College to update her skills. Peggy worked for the U.S. Government for 34 years, receiving several awards for her performance.  On February 29, 1980, she married Wheatley E. Ward, Jr., of Edgewater, MD, with whom she'd worked for 10 years while at the Department of Commerce.  

She and Wheatley enjoyed over 33 years together before his death in 2013. Peggy was active in many neighborhood activities, such as serving as Treasurer of her Church, Secretary of a neighborhood civic association, and Secretary/Scorekeeper of her beloved duckpin bowling leagues. Peggy dearly loved her family, and her greatest pride was in their character and accomplishments. 

She is survived by her 3 children: Steven Kyler of Adamstown, MD, John (Carol) Kyler of Dunkirk, MD, and Lois (Hal) Oliff of Stafford, VA; her brother Frank Dressler of Leesburg, FL, 4 stepchildren Ginny (Harry) Gessford, Ed (Kathleen) Ward all of Edgewater, MD, Peggy Chappell of Melbourne, FL and Kathy (Joe) Guiffreda of Wesley Chapel, FL, as well as 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband Wheatley, Peggy was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, John W. Kyler, her sister Norma (and husband Bernie) Loeffel, sister-in-law Margaret Zollinhofer Dressler, and two grandchildren: Michaela Kyler and Scott Gessford. 

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Peggy’s life on Thursday, April 6, from 6pm to 8pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037 where a funeral service will be held on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 11am. Interment will follow at mayo United Methodist Church Cemetery, Edgewater, MD. Memorial contributions may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, Wounded Warrior Project PO Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675-851 or to a children’s charity of your choice in Peggy’s memory. 

Peggy K. Ward

Peggy K. Ward

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