Margaret Melichar

Margaret “Peggy” June (Kaehler) Melichar, 95, died January 3, 2020 at her Greensburg home. Youngest daughter June lived with her for the past 14 years so she could remain in her home with her garden, pets, bird feeders (and riding mower) to enjoy. Peggy’s spirit will be carried on by her children Craig Melichar (Pittsburgh), Diane (Greg) Davis (Winchester, VA), and June Aukerman (Greensburg), niece Kathy (Jay) Kaehler Overy, nephew Jeffrey Kaehler, 10 grandchildren: Katie, Annie, Michael, David and Jonathan McIver, Christopher, Laurie and Jeffrey Davis, and Brian and Danny Lee, and 11 great grandchildren. Her family was the center of her life. Peggy will be joyfully reunited in eternity with her husband Rudy (’02), beloved daughters Karen (Don) McIver ('05) and Lynn (Rocky) Lee ('19), her father and mother, Leo and B. Marie Cooper Kaehler, her dear brother Melvyn Kaehler, sister Mary Kaehler Raub, and her extra special cat, Lionel.

Born, June 2, 1924, Peggy grew up in Girard, Pa near Erie graduating from Rice Avenue High School, attending Kent State University and Mercyhurst College. Peggy witnessed Charles Lindbergh’s airplane, the “Spirit of St. Louis”, fly over her house ('27), as well as the Graf Zeppelin airship ('29). Her sister was a civilian helicopter instructor in the Vietnam War. Peggy was engaged to her fiancé, Rudy, just before he shipped off to the Pacific Theater in WWII as a fighter pilot. He proudly named his P-47 and P-51 planes “Peggy June”, displaying a large beautiful portrait of her on their sides. After the war they married in Latrobe, with Rudy’s childhood friend, Arnie Palmer, in the wedding party. Raising five children, Peggy enjoyed her sewing and taking all the children to music lessons, but mostly working in her beautiful yard. After Rudy retired from Latrobe Steel Company they enjoyed annual reunions around the country with Rudy’s fighter squadron.

Friends are invited to attend a service in the Mausoleum at the Westmoreland County Memorial Park, 150 East Side Dr, Greensburg, PA 15601 on Saturday, January 18 at noon. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to: Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598