Peggy Wurzbach Justice of Hondo passed away Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.  She was 87.

Peggy Marie Wurzbach was born in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 11, 1936, to George and Maria De Castro Wurzbach.

Her mother passed away when Peggy was five years old and two great aunts, Jeanetta Wurzbach Clare and Fanny Wurzbach, lovingly raised Peggy as their own. In addition to her parents and the aunts who raised her, she is preceded in death by her husband, who died Dec. 27, 2020, and her brother, George Raymond Wurzbach.

Peggy attended and graduated from Breckenridge High School in San Antonio. She married her high school sweetheart, B. A. Justice, on June 7, 1957. Peggy and B.A.  were blessed with 63 years of holy matrimony; daughters, Holly Kay Justice and Laurie Marie Justice Graff (Ken Graff); grandchildren, Colin Justice Graff (Joy Graff), Justina Marie Graff, and Arlynn Wade Justice (Cheyenne Sheffield); and great-grandsons, Hunter Wade Justice and Louis James Graff.

Peggy attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, graduating with a bachelor's degree in education. She earned her master's degree as a reading specialist from Incarnate Word University in the late 1970s. Peggy and B.A. opened a private tutoring business, Tutor Plus, offering one-on-one tutoring to students of all ages, from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s.

Teaching was Peggy's passion! From 1960 through 2003 she taught at various school campuses in Melrose, Socorro, Moriarty, Eunice, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and in San Antonio, Columbus and Hondo, Texas. Peggy embraced her love of children and was very creative in the art of educating.

One noted accomplishment from Peggy's teaching career occurred recently in Columbus, TX. To honor Columbus' Sesquicentennial celebration in 1973, Peggy and students from Columbus Elementary compiled artifacts for a time capsule that was buried on the lawn of the court house. The time capsule was opened Jan. 13, 2023, however, due to health issues Peggy was unable to attend the unburying of the time capsule 50 years later.

Peggy and B.A. lived in many places during their 63-year marriage. Pleasures found in their respective retirements included building southwest furniture, traveling, caring for grandchildren, participating in church function, and spending family time with their daughters.

Since February 2021 Peggy was a resident of Community Care Nursing Home in Hondo where caring and attentive staff lovingly tended to her daily needs in her final years.

Peggy Marie Wurzbach Justice was a faithful wife, very loving mother, dutiful servant to her Heavenly Father, and an exceptionally devoted teacher to thousands of children.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2:00 p.m. at the New Fountain Methodist Church Sanctuary.

Memorials may be made to the church.