Peggy Hope Tittel, 85, of Abilene, Kansas and formerly of Russell, Kansas died Friday, January 11, 2013 at her son’s home in Russell with her family by her side.

Peggy was born January 27, 1927 in Bassett, Nebraska the daughter of Darrell and Orma (Carr) Riley.  She grew up in Bassett, Nebraska, Rocky Ford, Colorado and Albuquerque, New Mexico.  She graduated from High School in Albuquerque.

Peggy met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Vernon Fredrick Tittel on March 5, 1946.  Surviving family include her two sons, Thomas of Russell, Jim & wife(Shelly) of Wichita, brothers Jerry Riley; Larry and Patty McCracken, both from California, five grandchildren Terry and Christopher Tittel, Evans, Georgia and Kayla, Kelsey, and Kerri Harris Wichita.  She was preceded in death by her father Darrel Riley, mother and step-father Orma and Wayne McCracken, brother Don Riley, sister Darlene Fiskes, and husband Vernon Tittel.

Peggy worked 48 years for United Telephone Company (Sprint). Peggy worked 28 years in Russell, as an operator and in Customer Service, transferred to Junction City for an additional 20 years of service.  She also served as President of the CWA Union for Kansas, Missouri, & Arkansas for 20 years and retired in 2002.

Peggy was formerly a member of St. John Lutheran Church.  She also was a certified Ombudsman and a member of the board for Flint Hills Area Aging for Dickenson County.  She would travel to local nursing facilities and wrote reports for the State of Kansas.  She volunteered at Abilene Hospital and the Eisenhower Presidential Museum.  While staying at the Brown Memorial Home, Peggy was an Assistant Matron and she also wrote the Brown Memorial Newsletter.

A graveside memorial service to celebrate Peggy’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 29, 2013, at the Brown Memorial Home private Cemetery at 1974 Hawk Road approximately two miles South of Abilene, Kansas on Highway 15, with Pastor Chester Strobel officiating.  Cremation has preceded the graveside service.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral arrangements.