Obituary of Peggy Patten Winningham

Peggy Patten Winningham died on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, at the age of 82. A lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Peggy graduated from Bright’s School and Girls’ Preparatory School, as well as Vanderbilt University where she met her late husband, Richard Winningham of Cookeville, Tenn. A natural athlete, Peggy was captain of the first GPS basketball team and also excelled at intramural sports at Vanderbilt, winning badminton championships all four years. After graduation, she worked for two years at National Life and Casualty Insurance Co. in Nashville while her husband finished Vanderbilt Law School. The couple returned to Chattanooga in 1955, where Richard commenced his law practice and Peggy taught for a number of years at both Fairyland Elementary and Girls’ Preparatory School. Peggy was a lifetime member of First Methodist Church, later merged to become First-Centenary United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School for over 30 years and served as secretary on the Administrative Board. She was also an active volunteer at Normal Park Elementary where in addition to being PTA president, she started the Junior Garden Club, and was a troop leader for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts. Peggy was also President of the Riverview Garden Club. Although Peggy did not begin playing tennis until her early forties, after her youngest child started school, by her fifties Peggy was a nationally ranked tournament player. She won a silver ball at the National 65's Grass Court Doubles Championship, the same year that she and her partner were ranked first in the Southerns and third in the nation. Peggy won three bronze balls: two in singles and one in doubles. Peggy’s highest national rank in singles was fifth. She won more than 30 USTA senior singles, doubles, and mixed doubles championships in various age groups. She was ranked No. 1 in the South in the 50s, 55s, 60s, and 75s age groups. Peggy played on many Southern Intersectional Teams and Tennessee Senior Cup Teams. In 1999 Peggy was inducted into the Chattanooga Old Timer’s Sport Hall of Fame. She was made a charter member of the GPS Athletic Hall of fame in 2003. Peggy was inducted into the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007. In addition to her competitive achievements, Peggy helped to foster the sport of tennis as a member of the inaugural Board of the Chattanooga Tennis Association and as secretary for the Manker Patten Tennis Club, where she was made an Honorary Life Member and continued to play until just a couple of months before her death. Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Richard H. Winningham; and parents, Mr and Mrs Z Lupton Patten. Survivors include three children: Steve (Daisy) Winningham, Lynn Winningham, Lupton Winningham; granddaughter Margaret Longwith; sisters, Charlotte Patten Gauss, Phyllis Patten Hardin, and Fontaine Patten Moore; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Peggy especially wanted to express her thanks to all the friends and family who helped her in her last years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Pet Placement Center or First Centenary United Methodist Church. A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Kate Lyle West Chapel, First-Centenary United Methodist Church. Interment will be noon Saturday in Forest Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, at Wann Funeral Home. Share your memories, stories and photos at wannfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center, at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo, 423-821-7551