Peggy Russell Rudolph of Decatur passed June 18, 2026, at the age of 79. Visitation will be held at Wesley Methodist Church on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 1:00 pm. She will be laid to rest at Roselawn Cemetery. June 24th would have been their 59th wedding anniversary.
Peggy was born October 9, 1946, to Dr. Henry E Russell Il and Grace Russell in Humboldt, Tennessee.
Peggy is survived by her husband of 59 years, Bill C Rudolph; children, Leigh Ellen Atkins (Brad) and Bill Stephen Rudolph (Amy); grandchildren, Julia Stier (Nate), Jacob Atkins (Grace), Preston Rudolph, Reagan Atkins, Dillon Bullard, and Brittney Landers (Carson) and great grandchildren, Ada & Bennett Landers.
Peggy and Bill met at Lambuth College in Jackson, Tennessee. Peggy was crowned Miss Lambuth College in the spring of her freshman year. They were engaged after he graduated in 1966. They were married the following summer after Bill completed his graduate studies at Murray State University.
They moved to Decatur in September of 1967. Peggy taught in the Decatur School System for 26 years. She started at Woodmeade Elementary in the fall 1968. She also taught at Austinville and finished her career at Julian Harris in 2006. After retiring her hobbies were her grandchildren. She loved taking them to the mountains and to the beach.
Peggy and Bill have been members of Wesley Methodist Church for over 58 years.
Pallbearers will Jacob Atkins, Preston Rudolph, Carson Landers, Dillon Bullard, Nate Stier, and Garrison Sickles.
