On May 28, 1951, Peggy Marie Akers came into this world in Bakersfield, California, to Tom and Sue Akers. The nurturing, tight-knit bond forged among Peggy, her brothers Tommy and John, her sister Alyce, and her loving parents was lifelong and unbreakable, supporting each other through life’s difficulties and celebrating its joys. It comes as no surprise that she built the same powerful bond in the family she created with her husband, Tom, her daughters, Rita and Casey, and her beloved granddaughter, Liliana.

Peggy is preceded in death by her vibrant, spunky daughter Casey, lost to us in 1995 at the tender age of 9. Peggy moved through her grief with peace and strength, forever carrying a piece of Casey in her heart. From this family tragedy, Peggy emerged with a deep inner knowledge: how to be thankful for our lives, and how to love well.

Peggy’s greatest joys were her daughter and granddaughter, and she was endlessly proud of them. Peggy remarked that to give birth is to “dar a luz” (to give light). She birthed the light of her life, Rita, in 1981. The light was amplified when her daughter gave birth to her precious and only granddaughter Liliana in 2000. Peggy never missed an opportunity to tell them, and others, how deeply they were loved, to shower them with her maternal pride. She was an exemplary mom and Mimi.

She was lucky in love. Not everyone marries their soulmate, but Peggy did. In 1998, Peggy married Tom Westberg after what was initially an enduring friendship. She expressed that the secret to a happy marriage is when “each partner thinks they got the better deal,” and often said she was married to one of the kindest people around. Happily married for the last 28 years, together they built a life around their shared values of mutual respect, adventure, lifelong learning, and being strong pillars of love in their families and community.

Peggy’s life was devoted to the service of children. She graduated from West High in Bakersfield in 1969. Peggy then attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In 1973, she earned a bachelor's degree in Child Development and spent her career in education, eventually becoming the childcare supervisor for the Paso Robles public school district. She believed in books, libraries, and advocating for early literacy in young children. One of her most fulfilling jobs was among her first, working in a preschool at a migrant labor camp in the Central Valley. Peggy was forever impacted by the strong values of love for family, kindness toward others, and hard work in the migrant families, and it was here that she developed a reverence for the Latin culture. From the late 1970s on, her life and career were increasingly intertwined in the Paso Robles wine industry, eventually leading to Tom and Peggy owning a winery and vineyard at their home on Willow Creek Road, Westberg Cellars.

Having never lost her adventurous spirit, “retirement” for Peggy looked different than what one might expect: Peggy and Tom moved to La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico in 2013 and spent the last 7 years living in Ajijic, Jalisco. She immersed herself in the culture and community of her village, building a strong network of close friends and deepening her love for Latin culture. Peggy was fluent in Spanish.

Sometimes shy around new people, Peggy’s heart quickly blossomed into exuberance, and her friends were loved fiercely. She would want us to remember her warmth, intelligence, determination, empathy, and her penchant for a good time. Peggy was a go-with-the-flow kind of person who loved when the flow took a turn toward adventure. She can be remembered for her infamous to-do lists (which she not only made, but completed), her love for dark chocolate and champagne, and being an excellent hostess (and guest) of lively gatherings with dear friends. Peggy was tall and strong with soft green eyes. She could always be found wearing bold and elegant pieces of jewelry. Peggy’s essence was a true balance of grit and grace.

Peggy loved to travel. But not only that: she loved to witness how people in other cultures lived their lives. She journeyed across Central and South America and Europe with her family. Her favorite trip was visiting Paris with Rita and Liliana in 2011.

And music. Music was deeply ingrained in Peggy’s life. She was always going to live shows. The soundtrack of her life included favorite artists Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Neil Young, John Prine, and Van Morrison.

Peggy was a cowgirl! She spent her early childhood on a farm, and joined the Stockdale Riding Club at 13. From there, she never once stopped, joining team sorting competitions in her 60s and taking trail rides with friends in her 70s. Some of her strongest friendships were created or strengthened through this mutual love of horses.

Nothing could slow Peggy down. Physical fitness, from Reformer Pilates, Jazzercise, and Zumba, to walking several miles a day, kept her in excellent physical health and her mind and quick wit were as strong as ever until an unexpected and devastating diagnosis of glioblastoma in February of 2026. Her husband and daughter never left her side as they cared for her during her illness. Peggy died at her home in Paso Robles on September 12th with Tom, Rita, Liliana, and siblings John and Alyce close. She passed with the same sweet smile, grace, and quiet strength with which she lived.

We will look at her, the example she set, the love she poured out upon us, and know our lives were blessed by Peggy’s presence. Still, we are devastated by the loss.