Peggy Trout

Retired mathematician, educator, musician, and avid traveler, Peggy Lucile Guffin Glenn Trout, passed away on May 31, 2022 at her home in Auburn, AL.  Born October 6, 1941 in LaGrange, GA to Ralph and Martha Guffin, she grew up with a passion for learning and first graduated from Samford University. In a time when women with even one advanced degree was uncommon, Peggy went on to complete a Master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Alabama and then eventually returned to academia to complete a PhD in Education Administration from Georgia State University.

While pursuing her intellectual curiosity in the classroom, Peggy took great pride when she landed her first job working on the Redstone Rocket project in Huntsville, AL. She soon realized that she, like her mother and sister, was truly an educator at heart.  In service of that passion, during her life Peggy taught both high school math and was an instructor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Even during her retirement years, she spent uncounted hours invested in school projects and homework assignments with her grandchildren, especially their math classes.  Peggy leaves a legacy of students, nephews, nieces, cousins and family friends who will always remember her deep curiosity in their studies and plans for college and steadfast words of encouragement and support.

During her long career, Peggy found ways to explore her interest in education in non-traditional ways as well; Peggy designed educational courses for a computer consulting company, a position which allowed her to indulge another of her great passions: travel.  Peggy traveled abroad as often as possible, excited about each new adventure, and often recounted friends and family members with joyful tales of the inspiring places she’d visited and the people she’d seen. 

Throughout her life, Peggy channeled her creative interests into her talent for music, as she was a skilled pianist and often working as an accompanist, playing for community ensembles, congregation choirs, and other church gatherings.  More than any other occasion, though, she treasured playing the piano when her extended family would gather around a hymnal, especially at the large family gatherings she treasured so much.  Peggy sang with the church choir across the years in every church where she was a member, always seeking out and embracing the community she found there.  Later in her life when she found herself away from her piano, Peggy discovered a pleasure in painting much to her own surprise, and specifically enjoyed capturing some of the beauty of Hawaii during her years living there.

Of all of the many places Peggy explored during her life, she found she loved being near the water most: oceans, lakes, and even swimming pools.  She loved walks on the beach and early sunrises over the ocean.  Peggy treasured quality time with family - from extended family reunions to casual talks over dinner. Above all though, Peggy’s greatest joy was found in celebrating the lives of her grandchildren, who were blessed to have a grandmother close enough to make chocolate chip pancakes, her favorite delicacy, on a regular basis.

Peggy is survived by her two daughters and their spouses, Gretchen (Tom) Pascoe, Lara (Marc) Adelberger; and her four grandchildren, Nate Pascoe, Drew Pascoe, Paige Adelberger and Megan Adelberger of Virginia; her two siblings and their spouses, Nancy (Jim) Golson, Tom (Deb) Guffin both of Auburn, Alabama; her dear friend Bill Wilkinson of Auburn, Alabama; and a large, beloved extended family.

Services will be held at Auburn United Methodist Church, Auburn, AL on Saturday, June 11 at 10 am.  The family will receive guests at 9am prior to the celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to institutions or organizations that she held dear: Samford University, Auburn United Methodist Church, or the Heifer Project.