Peggy K. Silver, age 103, passed away at her home on Sunday, April 12, 2026. A native of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, she married Virgil J. Silver of Celo on June 20, 1943. He moved to Oak Ridge to work at K25 in 1947, and Peggy followed two years later. Upon arrival at Elza Gate, she was hired to assign housing at the site of the current Chamber of Commerce. She later retired from Y12.

The daughter of Jeff King and Minnie Grindstaff Woody, she was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years; her sisters Estella Young, Ruby Buchanan, and Amy Buckner Ballard; and her brothers Frank, Fred, and Lee King. She is survived by several nieces and nephews.

A member of Grace Central Baptist Church since 1962, she served on every committee except the kitchen: she couldn’t cook anything that couldn’t be opened or unthawed. She was key in organizing the Go Getters, JJ Choir, and Circle of Friends, in addition to working in the library, singing in two choirs, and teaching Sunday School for over 35 years.

An avid adventurer, Peggy traveled to all 50 states and more than 20 countries (“I’ll never go back to Russia.”) as well as every national park and historic dam. She was a Pink Lady at Methodist Medical and volunteered at the Ecumenical Store House, serving on their Board of Directors for more than five years.

Special friends include her many friends at Central, the “birthday girls”, and the caregivers during her final days: Phyllis, Barbara, Maxine, Amanda, Antoinette, Andrea, Vay, and Wanda, as well as Carolyn, Jodi and several others over the past three years.

A memorial service will be conducted by Pastor Bryan Thomas at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Mott-McKamey Funeral Home. Visitation is from 1-2 p.m. with interment at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ecumenical Store House, Habitat for Humanity, or Grace Central Baptist Church.

Mott-McKamey Funeral Home and Cremations is assisting the Silver family.