This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: pritch4398 Surnames: SEXTON, HALL, GRAY, TURCHEN, BROWN, MARTIN, LEWIS, HECKENLIVELY, MILLICANO, WHITE, ROHE, BELLEN, MAGALLANES, BANDEL, VANN Classification: pension Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.hall/14314/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Peggy Lou Brown: October 14, 1921 - January 22, 2009 Peggy Lou Brown was born in Coronado on Oct. 14, 1921 and peacefully passed away on Jan. 22 in her home in Chula Vista. Peggy was born in Coronado in a house on E Avenue to Ruth (Sexton) and Burton A. (Allen) Hall. Peggy led a full life and had many accomplishments. Her most important accomplishment was that of giving birth to her daughters Dianne and Cindy, and her son Michael. Peggy had her share of traumatic events and faced each with a positive spirit that still inspires her friends and family. Peggy was drawn to the liberal arts even as a child and as a young girl she showed a propensity to dance. It was her love for dance and sense of duty that led to her joining the USO toward the end of World War II and traveling overseas to entertain the troops. Peggy was half of a dance and singing duo. They called themselves Vicki and Valerie Vann. Vicki (Peggy) was the one with blonde hair and blue eyes and Valerie with the dark brown hair and brown eyes. They entertained our troops at various locations in the European and African theaters. It often occurred that, due to a lack of a stage, many performances for troops were actually performed on the wings of an aircraft. She gave her daughter Cindy a diary she had kept that year, 1945, and in it Peggy comments on her sense of pride and accomplishment at being able to bring some joy to the troops. After touring with the USO, Vicki and Valerie Vann returned to New York City to continue building on their act when, unfortunately, while Peggy was on a train ride the window next to her imploded, embedding glass in her eyes. They were able to save her eyes but the doctors advised her to not perform under the bright lights anymore. She returned to Coronado to help her mother Ruth Martin and stepfather Frank Martin, open up what became Martin's Furniture. It was the prominent furniture store in Coronado for years. She then moved back up to Los Angeles for approximately 10 years where for a period of time she owned a dress shop call Glad Rags. Peggy was an outstanding seamstress and loved well-made clothes. She designed many clothes, so opening up a dress shop was something she really enjoyed. During this time Peggy continued on with her theatrical ways by working as an actress and an extra in films such as "The Bellboy" with Jerry Lewis. Around 1963 she returned to Coronado and eventually settled in the South Bay area. It was during these years that she managed a dress shop in Coronado called Ballard and Brockett and also managed the women's department at the JC Penney Department Store in Chula Vista. She and her husband, Dick Brown, lived in Imperial Beach on Hollister Street for 30 years on a piece of land they called The Ranch where they raised thoroughbreds for racing. It was during these years that Peggy also took up oil painting and particularly loved to paint portraits, animals and still-lifes. After Dick's death, she eventually moved back to Coronado for a period of time where she lived on G Street. She always loved Coronado and enjoyed being able to walk to the beach and to town. Her return to Coronado this time was especially heartfelt as she enjoyed, once again, being able to attend church at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. She took a Bible study class that she greatly enjoyed. These later years were shared in companionship with her longtime friend Don Heckenlively. She was settled in Chula Vista for the past few years where she passed away on Jan. 22. Peggy was a loving daughter, wife, mother, homemaker and was blessed with additional talents as a dancer, singer, seamstress and painter. Peggy will be missed but her influence lives on due to the sense of duty and talent in her children and grandchildren. To you, Peggy Lou, we say "ta da!" Peggy was preceded in death by husbands Alan Gray, Abe Turchen and Dick Brown. She is survived by her daughters Cindy Millicano (Pat Millicano;) and Dianne White (Fred Rohe;) brother Frank Martin; daughter-in-law Marty (wife of Michael Turchen;) and grandchildren Nicholas and Jessica Turchen; Skyler Millicano; Jensen Bellen; and great-grandchild Isabella Magallanes. She is also is survived by her aunt Lucille Bandel, who is a lifelong resident of Coronado, along with Lucille's daughter Beverly and grandson Edward. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Please make any donations to St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Source: Online Edition of the Coronado Eagle & Journal, Coronado (San Diego), California (CA) of 02-26-2009 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.