Margaret Ruth Magill

MAGILL, Margaret (nee Simmons) “Peggy”, 88, of Centerville, died on Monday, November 29, 2021. Born in Chicago, IL on May 9, 1933 to the late Mosby Lindsay Jr. and Eva (nee Van Winkle) Simmons. She was raised in Cincinnati, attended Denison University three years and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Ohio State University. She later took continuing education courses at the University of Dayton and Wright State University.

After raising her children, she became a feature writer at the Kettering-Oakwood Times, followed by many years in public relations for the Dayton Art Institute, the Dayton Air Show and Dayton Opera. A member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Daughters of the American Revolution, Peggy was also in the Friday Afternoon Club, the Investment Club of Greater Dayton and the Opera Guild of Dayton. She served on the Board of Directors of Dayton Opera, the Oakwood YMCA and the Opera Guild of Dayton, and was a past president of the Opera Guild. In addition to her dedication to her family, Peggy loved opera, to sing, and to travel. She was a soloist with the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Chancel Choir for many years, as well as singing with the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus, the Cincinnati International Touring Chorus, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus and Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir. In her retirement Peggy enjoyed time spent with her children and grandchildren, and traveling with her husband, especially with the Cincinnati Touring Chorus. She also led group trips to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for Dayton Opera and the Opera Guild, and to blockbuster exhibitions at museums throughout the Midwest and Eastern part of the United States for the Dayton Art Institute.

Peggy was preceded in death by her loving husband of 56 years, Paul; infant grandson, Noah Christopher Magill; sister, Marilyn Wedig (Henry) and brother, Mosby Lindsay Simmons III. She is survived by her four children, Michael (the late Angelia), Douglas, Paul Joseph, and Andrea (Tom) Auten; 11 grandchildren, Margaret, Caitlin, Kendall, Kaitlin, Maxwell, Hunter, Cole, Andrew, Paul Jacob, Nathan and Brian; great grandchildren, Jackson, Rose, Nicholas, Logan and Sierra; and sister-in-law, Jayne Simmons.

Family will greet friends 1-3PM on Sunday, January 9, 2022 with a Memorial Service beginning at 3PM at ROUTSONG FUNERAL HOME, 2100 E STROOP RD, KETTERING.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dayton Foundation at 500 Kettering Tower, Dayton, OH 45423 for the Margaret and Paul C. Magill Endowment Fund, or to Opera Guild of Dayton at 138 N. Main St., Dayton, OH 45402.