Virginia Archer Peak departed this life on November 18, 2019, at Alexian Memory Care on Signal Mountain, Tennessee, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on Sept. 9, 1918, on Signal Mountain. She attended Chattanooga (City) High School and business school. Virginia was a classical pianist and organist, avid gardener, voracious reader, lover of astronomy and wildflowers and great conversationalist. She and her husband Jack raised their children on land she held dear and had been in her family - early settlers of the mountain - for generations. As a teenager, she was honored to play the organ at her high school graduation at Memorial Auditorium. As a young woman, she was the pianist at Red Bank Baptist Church. Over the years, she shared the gift of music, teaching many people to play the piano.
Virginia was influential in the lives of young people in the community and at her church, Mt. Carmel Baptist, on Signal Mountain where she taught Sunday School and was director of the Girls’ Auxiliary. Her influence was reflected in the number of people who attended her 100th birthday party.
She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Luther Paul (Jack) Peak, parents, James Richmond and Siotha Dow Archer, brother, Albert Richmond Archer, sister, Siotha Dow Jones and grandson, Mark Bowick.
She is survived by her son Rev. Paul Richmond (Suzie) Peak, Lucy Bowick, Jane (Dr. Larry) Welch; grandchildren, William (David Bouffard) Bowick, Kara (David) Carpenter, Dr. Jonathan (Dr. LeAnn) Welch, Dr. David (Yang) Welch, Ryan Welch, Brie Welch; great-grandchildren, Alexandre Mark Bowick; Courtney and Jack Carpenter; Molly, Archer and Emmy Welch; Elli Welch; Lydia, Jane-Yi, Sam Paul, Thekla Barbara and Shell E. Welch. Also surviving her are her beloved nieces, special friend Iris Davis as well as many other friends.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 23, at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church on Signal Mountain at 11 a.m.
Visitation will be at Lane Funeral Home on Ashland Terrace from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, and precede the service from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at Alexian of Signal Mountain, especially Memory Care and Assisted Living, and asks that memorial contributions be made to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Lottie Moon offering or to the Alexian employee Christmas fund.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, www.lanefh.com, 423 877-3524.