Obituary for Margaret Ann "Peggy" Sax
Margaret Ann Bowser Sax, age 91, died Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Anderson, S.C. Known to many as Peggy or Peg, she was born in Bedford, PA on August 29, 1931, to Joseph "Roy" Bowser and Eva Irvin Bowser. Peg had one sister, Sarah Catherine “Sally” Boyd who predeceased her.
Peg attended Woodrow Wilson High School and Anne McLaughlin College in Washington D.C. She also attended Patricia Stevens modeling school and worked as a photographer’s model in D.C. as a young woman. In 1953 at age 21, Peg was selected to represent the state of her birth, Pennsylvania, as a Princess in the National Cherry Blossom Festival participating in a parade and dinner hosted by then Vice President Richard Nixon. Peggy then began a career as a stewardess for Eastern Airlines, living in Queens, NY and New Orleans, LA, which is where she met her soon to be husband, William Albert Sax, a young geophysicist working in oil exploration and development.
The young Sax couple married in 1957 and settled in Houston, TX where both their sons, John William and James "Jim" Patterson Sax were born. Bill’s work with Union Oil (now Chevron) led them to live in California and back to Houston, TX. For nine years, Peggy and Bill lived in The Hague Netherlands, and in Surrey England raising their two sons and embarking on adventurous trips throughout Europe. Peg was known as an avid school chaperone even escorting a group of middle schoolers on a trip behind the Iron Curtain to East Berlin. During their years abroad, Peggy planned elaborate ski holidays including traditional Christmas dinners complete with turkey and a tree in the Swiss and French Alps. Upon returning to the U.S. Peggy and Bill settled in Pasadena, CA for many years and Peggy undertook numerous charity organizations especially supporting Mayfield Junior School and Loyola High School attended by Jim. In that capacity, Peg met her dear friend Kathy Ryan who remained her closest friend for more than fifty years.
Eventually Peggy and Bill moved to Chapel Hill, NC where they spent 25 years to be closer to their son, John and his wife, Kathryn and their grandchildren, Adam and Andrew Sax. Jim moved to Iquitos, Peru where he lives and has a son, Matthew. Peggy was a devoted grandmother to her three grandsons and relished hearing of their adventures and spending vacations with her family in the U.S. Peggy was very close to her cousins in the Virginia and Maryland area including Leif and Shirley Olsen, Cathie Olsen, and Peggy Olsen Renn. Her niece Becky Boyd is part of her “cousin group” with whom Peggy enjoyed many visits and reminiscences of their family life. The cousins made several trips to visit Peggy and Bill especially after they moved to the Atlanta area and then Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC to be close to John and Kathryn.
Peggy is remembered by her loved ones as a vivacious hostess, a talented interior decorator, and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother known as Mimi to her grandsons. Her sense of style and humor were greatly appreciated by friends and family. Her faith and joy in attending mass, especially the spiritual music, was an important part of her life as a volunteer at St. Thomas More Catholic Church and School in Durham, NC for many years. Peg was a classic Steel Magnolia: charming and lovely but with a strong and determined resolve. She lived a long, full life with love, adventure and strong ties to her communities. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Bill, sons, John and Jim, daughter-in-law Kathryn, and grandsons Adam, Andrew and Matthew as well as beloved cousins Leif, Cathie and Peggy, and niece Becky with their own children and grandchildren. Dear friend Kathy in Seattle, with her large and lovely family, were very special to Peggy and all will miss her spirit and vibrant interest in their lives.
A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, April 3, 2023, at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church, 118 E. 2nd St. Frederick, Maryland. Fr. John Williamson will serve as Celebrant, and burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Historic Downtown Frederick, Maryland.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER, ANDERSON, S.C.
Peg attended Woodrow Wilson High School and Anne McLaughlin College in Washington D.C. She also attended Patricia Stevens modeling school and worked as a photographer’s model in D.C. as a young woman. In 1953 at age 21, Peg was selected to represent the state of her birth, Pennsylvania, as a Princess in the National Cherry Blossom Festival participating in a parade and dinner hosted by then Vice President Richard Nixon. Peggy then began a career as a stewardess for Eastern Airlines, living in Queens, NY and New Orleans, LA, which is where she met her soon to be husband, William Albert Sax, a young geophysicist working in oil exploration and development.
The young Sax couple married in 1957 and settled in Houston, TX where both their sons, John William and James "Jim" Patterson Sax were born. Bill’s work with Union Oil (now Chevron) led them to live in California and back to Houston, TX. For nine years, Peggy and Bill lived in The Hague Netherlands, and in Surrey England raising their two sons and embarking on adventurous trips throughout Europe. Peg was known as an avid school chaperone even escorting a group of middle schoolers on a trip behind the Iron Curtain to East Berlin. During their years abroad, Peggy planned elaborate ski holidays including traditional Christmas dinners complete with turkey and a tree in the Swiss and French Alps. Upon returning to the U.S. Peggy and Bill settled in Pasadena, CA for many years and Peggy undertook numerous charity organizations especially supporting Mayfield Junior School and Loyola High School attended by Jim. In that capacity, Peg met her dear friend Kathy Ryan who remained her closest friend for more than fifty years.
Eventually Peggy and Bill moved to Chapel Hill, NC where they spent 25 years to be closer to their son, John and his wife, Kathryn and their grandchildren, Adam and Andrew Sax. Jim moved to Iquitos, Peru where he lives and has a son, Matthew. Peggy was a devoted grandmother to her three grandsons and relished hearing of their adventures and spending vacations with her family in the U.S. Peggy was very close to her cousins in the Virginia and Maryland area including Leif and Shirley Olsen, Cathie Olsen, and Peggy Olsen Renn. Her niece Becky Boyd is part of her “cousin group” with whom Peggy enjoyed many visits and reminiscences of their family life. The cousins made several trips to visit Peggy and Bill especially after they moved to the Atlanta area and then Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC to be close to John and Kathryn.
Peggy is remembered by her loved ones as a vivacious hostess, a talented interior decorator, and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother known as Mimi to her grandsons. Her sense of style and humor were greatly appreciated by friends and family. Her faith and joy in attending mass, especially the spiritual music, was an important part of her life as a volunteer at St. Thomas More Catholic Church and School in Durham, NC for many years. Peg was a classic Steel Magnolia: charming and lovely but with a strong and determined resolve. She lived a long, full life with love, adventure and strong ties to her communities. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Bill, sons, John and Jim, daughter-in-law Kathryn, and grandsons Adam, Andrew and Matthew as well as beloved cousins Leif, Cathie and Peggy, and niece Becky with their own children and grandchildren. Dear friend Kathy in Seattle, with her large and lovely family, were very special to Peggy and all will miss her spirit and vibrant interest in their lives.
A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, April 3, 2023, at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church, 118 E. 2nd St. Frederick, Maryland. Fr. John Williamson will serve as Celebrant, and burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Historic Downtown Frederick, Maryland.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER, ANDERSON, S.C.