MARGARET WATSON BLITCH
Peggy Watson Blitch, 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on January 13, 2019. Peggy was born in Gainesville, Florida on July 7, 1937 to the late William B. (Billy) Watson and Margaret DeMilly Watson.
Peggy attended P.K. Yonge School from kindergarten until she graduated in 1955. She attended Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri then returned to the University of Florida where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1959. She and Riley Blitch were married in 1959 and she began her teaching career at J.J. Finley School in 1960. Peggy taught kindergarten and first grade at Finley and Glen Springs Elementary until 1972 when she joined the faculty of Martha Manson Academy and retired in 1995. She was a speech therapist at The Morris Center for a few years until she retired completely in 1998. During her teaching years, she was active in the Junior League, the Saint Elizabeth Circle at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and was on the board of Evergreen Cemetery and the Matheson Center.
Peggy and Riley loved to travel with friends and visited most European countries as well as Canada, Mexico, much of the U.S. and sailed in The Virgin Islands several summers. She loved to spend time at her cabin on Lake Swan near Melrose, FL with her children and grandchildren. Peggy was a kind and gentle spirit, always loyal to her family and friends. She continued to teach and inspire those around her both before and during her 16-year journey with Alzheimer’s Disease.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Billy Watson. Survivors include, Riley her husband of 59 years, her son Riley Blitch Jr., and his partner Sean York, her daughter Jeanie and her husband Fred Sabback, and granddaughters Riley and Bailey Sabback. Her brothers Bill Watson, Jim Watson, and Jim’s partner Daniel Bell, her sister Ann Watson Braden, her devoted dog Maxx and Peggy’s beloved caregiver and friend Kim Curtis all of Gainesville, Florida.
A memorial service will be on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 100 NE 1st Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. The celebration of Peggy’s life will continue in the Page Parish Hall after the service. In lieu of flowers donations in Peggy’s memory may be made to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Children’s Program or Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606.
