Butler mourns former school board director, longtime contributor
When Margaret “Peg” Dumbaugh stepped down from Butler Area School District’s Golden Tornado Foundation in 2004, it was almost impossible to imagine the district without her around in some form.
Prior to stepping down, Dumbaugh — who died March 4, at the age of 97 — served in various capacities in the district for decades prior, including working as a teacher at Butler Senior High School during the 1960s, as a public relations director and school board member.
Lisa Konesni became friends with Dumbaugh in 1992 when the two were running for spots on the Butler Area school board, which they both ultimately won. When asked for a few words to describe Dumbaugh, she used “trustworthy,” “hardworking” and “straightforward.”
“I just admire her and the qualities that she brought to the table and the deep friendship we developed. She spent many holidays with my family and me, and, consequently, my children all knew and loved her as well,” Konesni said.
One of Konesni’s fondest memories with Dumbaugh was co-chairing the Butler Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation’s “Visions” fundraising campaign, which started in 2000 to raise $250,000 for the school district’s educational and athletic programs. Although they didn’t quite reach their fundraising goal, they came close.
“It was for the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation to really get it off the ground,” Konesni said. “It was a three-year campaign. We asked for $250,000 and we got $225,000.”
Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy first met Dumbaugh when he was a classmate in elementary school with Dumbaugh’s daughter, Kerry.
“I got to know them and work with Peg in other capacities as we became adults,” Dandoy said. “She was a great role model … an incredibly intelligent woman and really hardworking person on behalf of the school district. In that particular capacity, she could be tough, but she was always a pleasure to work with and a very compassionate and caring person.”
For her decades of contributions to the school district, Dumbaugh received the “Distinguished Woman” award from the Butler branch of Soroptimist International.
Dumbaugh’s husband, Wilbur — who died in 2010 — was also a well-known community figure as a member of the local theater and musical community, as well as the inaugural president of Butler’s Musical Theatre Guild.
“She and Wilbur were amazing people and role models for us all,” Dandoy said.
