By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great local journalism.
Investigation into wreck continues
Womans funeral will be Monday
Placeholder Image
Forsyth County News
Funeral services will be early next week in Wisconsin for a 72-year-old woman killed Monday in a head-on collision in northeastern Forsyth County.

No charges have been filed in connection with the wreck, which occurred about 9:45 a.m. on Keith Bridge Road. Authorities identified the woman as Ruby Peckham of Brookshire Road.

According to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s report, Peckham’s 2004 Chevrolet Impala was struck by a 1998 Ford Explorer driven by 18-year-old Cory Thomas Esco of Holbrook Road.

Esco was hospitalized for unspecified injuries he suffered as a result of the wreck.

Sheriff’s Capt. Frank Huggins did not know Esco’s condition, only that he had remained at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
Huggins said the wreck is under investigation.

According to an obituary, Peckham was a Wisconsin native who moved frequently with her husband, Virgil “Buzz” Peckham, for his job.

“Her family will miss her infectious laugh, beautiful smile, unwavering spirit and determination,” the obituary said.

It goes on to say that the mother of three had visited every continent except Antarctica and South America.

“She maintained close, loving friendships with friends and family all over the world via old-fashioned letter writing and e-mail,” the obituary said.

Peckham’s cousin, Nancy Schneider, described her in an e-mail “as one of the nicest people you could have ever known.”

“I feel the worst for Ruby’s daughter who is due with Ruby’s first grandchild any day,” she wrote.

According to the sheriff’s report, Peckham was traveling east on Keith Bridge when Esco crossed the centerline and struck her vehicle head on.

There were no passengers in either vehicle and it was raining heavily at the time of the wreck, the report said.

The road was shut down for about two hours as a result of the collision.

In addition to her husband of 54 years, immediate survivors include her mother, Glee Gochenaur Robbins of Richland Center, Wis., daughters, Susan Michelle Peckham of Washington, D.C., and Mary Anna Peckham of suburban Maryland and a brother.

She was preceded in death by her son, Roger David Peckham.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Pratt Funeral Home in Richland Center, Wis.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Eagle Ranch Children’s Home in Flowery Branch, the Schmidt-Woodland Hills Retirement Community in Richland Center, Wis., or the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes in LaGrange.

E-mail Julie Arrington at juliearrington@forsythnews.com.