Rooted in Love: Peggy Thomas’s Story of Family, Faith, and Hard Work
There’s a quiet strength in Peggy Thomas, the kind that comes from a lifetime of early mornings, big family dinners, and fields stretching out under an Indiana sky. Peggy’s story began in Brushfield, Indiana, where her father worked the land growing tobacco and raising cattle, and her mother ran the kitchen at the family’s Country Kettle Restaurant. For eleven years, Peggy’s parents owned and operated the restaurant together—her mother as the cook, her father helping when he could, and all the siblings pitching in when needed. Peggy herself spent plenty of time at the Country Kettle, learning the rhythms of a busy kitchen and the satisfaction of feeding neighbors. The restaurant wasn’t just her parents’ business; it was a gathering place for the whole community, always full of home-cooked meals and friendly conversation.
With five siblings, Peggy grew up in a house where work and laughter went hand-in-hand. Sundays meant church, but every day brought time together—driving a horse wagon through the fields to collect hay with her dad, or helping to milk the cows at dawn. Peggy learned early that some of the best memories are made with your hands in the earth and your family by your side.
After the tenth grade, Peggy made a decision: she’d stay on the farm, working alongside her father to keep things running. During those years, she grew close to Van, the young man who would become her partner for life. They married when Peggy was just 17, and together they built a home that overflowed with love and noise—ten children, all raised on the same values of faith, hard work, and togetherness.
In 1969, Peggy and Van moved their family to Madison County, starting a new farm where they grew tobacco and raised cattle, just as her father had taught her. Their home was always open—neighbors would gather for baseball games in the yard, and Sundays were for church and family. Their partnership lasted 67 years, filled with seasons of planting, harvesting, and watching their family tree spread its roots. Those ten children grew up, and Peggy’s world blossomed to include as many as sixty grandchildren—a legacy of laughter and love that fills every holiday and every memory.
Since joining Dominion Senior Living of Richmond in July 2021, Peggy has brought that same sense of warmth and welcome with her. She finds joy in music, especially when the Dominion Singers come to visit. She loves a good card game, and her hands are rarely still—always busy with crafts or lending a hand to a friend. Peggy’s life is proof that simple joys, hard work, and family are what make a life rich.
We’re grateful for every story she shares, every smile she brings, and every gentle reminder that a life well lived is measured in love.
