Peggy Vandyke

Peggy Van Dyke passed away August 18, 2023, with her family at her side. Peggy was born October 1, 1954, in Pasco Washington to Ray Herman Mewes and Joeleen Blankenship Mewes. She was raised in Kennewick, Washington along with her older brother Jeffery and younger brother Bradley. Peggy received her education in the Kennewick School District, graduating in 1973. She enjoyed music, marching band, participating in the bowling team, and making friends. After high school, she worked as a secretary in the Pasco city attorney's office and later worked in the clerical department of the Hanford energy plant. She later earned her bachelor’s in business from Central Washington University. She moved to California and settled in Sacramento working for the Small Business Administration. In 1984, she was awarded the California Small Business Administration employee of the year. She met and married John Gammie in 1990, settling together in Bakersfield, California. John suffered a heart attack requiring a heart transplant and she began to care for her husband. Peggy returned to Kennewick, taking a job with Lamb Weston, and caring for John untill his passing. She later met and married David Alan Van Dyke of Grandview, Washington, in September of 1997. They began their life in Grandview, where Peggy became a member of the Sunnyside Christain Reformed Church. She enjoyed cooking, baking, and entertaining. In 1999, she received her dream job of being a mother, when their son Erik was born. She took a part time job at Yakima Valley Community College on the Grandview Campus where she worked in the student support office. She put to work her caring nature, coming alongside students, and assisting them as they advanced through their education. During her tenure at YVC, she and David enjoyed raising their son Erik, who married Allison Vandenberg in 2022. Peggy retired in November of 2019. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Joeleen, and her stepfather Paul Swain. She was also preceded by three cousins Roger Bergin, Jennifer Anderson, and Joel Anderson. She is survived by her husband David Alan Van Dyke, Erik and Allison Van Dyke, her two brothers Jeff (Penny) and Bradley (Pam) Mewes, Aunt Judy (Warren) Cogswell, cousins Alan Bergin, Carol Bergin, Nick August, Joanne Halvorson, Jannelle (David) Griffith, and many beloved nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held in Sunnyside, Washington at Valley Hills Funeral Home on September 9 at 11:00 am, followed by a lunch for all friends and family at the Sunnyside Christain Reformed Church. The family asks memorials to be given to Sunnyside Christian School or Chaplaincy Hospice Kennewick in lieu of flowers. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Peggy Vandyke, please visit our flower store.