Dr. Peggy Putnam Alexander, DDS, MPH, peacefully passed away Monday, December 8, 2025, age 88, at her home in San Antonio, Texas. Services will be held at her beloved Lake Wilson, Muscle Shoals, Alabama at a later date.
Dr. Alexander retired in June of 2025 after 40 years of teaching, patient care and mentorship at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio School of Dentistry. She joined the School of Dentistry as a clinical professor and served as a research associate in the Department of Periodontics during her time at the University. She received her DDS from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in 1981. She earned a Certificate in Dental Hygiene in 1957 and her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1961 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Before joining UT Health San Antonio, she served as a practicing dentist in the U.S. Army Uniform Services, National Health Service Corps and later maintained a private practice in San Antonio.
Dr. Alexander was born in Haleyville, Alabama on November 11, 1937 to James Wade Putnam and Mildred Stephenson Putnam. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Gragg and later by her husband Robert Alexander. She is survived by sons, John McKenzie of Decatur, Alabama; Mark McKenzie (Gretchen) of Advance, North Carolina; Andrew McKenzie of Asheville, North Carolina; and sister Sara Putnam Voorhies of Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Grandchildren, Caitlyn Langford (Stephen) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Kyle McKenzie (Lauren) of Raleigh, North Carolina; Madeleine McKenzie of Moab, Utah; and Clayton McKenzie of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Charlie McKenzie of Charlotte, North Carolina; Ben McKenzie of New York City, New York; and four great-grandchildren, Ruthie, Micah, Junia, Lydia and Rylie as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
To describe Dr. Alexander, or Dr. A, as her students referred to her, is akin to describing the Rube Goldberg Infinity Machine…look it up… thousands of moving parts, or as her son once described her, “Peggy’s life was like a three-ring circus…and she was working in all of the rings.” Her interests were varied and unbounded, always moving and changing directions. No matter the obstacle, she was always ready for the challenge, whether it be building a treehouse for the grandchildren, repair a leaky roof, building a fence, cutting trees, she was always ready to face any challenge head-on. She was an accomplished artist, teacher, musician, carpenter, potter, toy maker, jeweler, swimmer, water skier, hiker, avid reader, gardener and was constantly thinking of the next thing to do or create. As a mother, she was an inveterate educator of proper social etiquette with eye-contact, handshake and table manners practiced at an early age.
Her 4 decades of dedication to the University of Texas, Health Science Center, San Antonio as a Professor of Dentistry combined with 20 years as a Dental Hygienist in North Carolina, is testament to her love for the field of dentistry. Her interest in sharing her knowledge of the intricacies of the field of dentistry was her primary goal toward the success of her students.
UT Health, School of Dentistry has graciously honored her dedication and service by establishing The Dr. Peggy Alexander Endowed Scholarship Fund, a scholarship to provide world-class education at the predoctoral level and help shape the futures of young clinicians. To make a gift online, go to https://give.uthscsa.edu/campaigns/73330/donations/new? or click on the QR code. You can also contact the Development Director, Alex Castaneda, at (210)259-9980 or Castanedam2@uthscsa.edu
The family would like to thank Liz Boyles, Alice Rodriguez, Mary Helen Rodriguez and Compassus Hospice for the loving care given to Peggy.
