TERRE HAUTE — Marilyn Peffley, whose personal tragedy made her a passionate advocate against drunken driving, died Sunday at age 78.
In 1983, five years after the death of her daughter, Delaine, in a drunken driving crash, Peffley started the Wabash Valley chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
She spent the next 25 years working tirelessly for her cause, advocating for victims, working with police, speaking with legislators, writing letters and hosting victim impact panels.
Her name became synonymous with MADD and the fight against drunken driving, said Marcia Stevens, former president of the Wabash Valley MADD chapter.
Stevens said Peffley helped her cope with her own tragedy, the death of her daughter, son-in-law and unborn grandchild in a crash involving an impaired driver.
“She was like a mother to me,” Stevens said.
In a January interview, Peffley said she tried to keep Delaine’s “memory alive through my work in MADD. My goal has been to try to prevent these tragedies from happening in another person’s family.” She retired from MADD that month.
Lila Waugh, who also lost a daughter in a drunken driving crash, said Peffley “helped me through really tough times.”
Waugh’s daughter died on Oct. 27, 1992, and Peffley’s daughter on Oct. 28, 1978. “It made that week so hard for us. We would just cling to each other to try to find some solace,” Waugh said.
The two knew each other through Memorial United Methodist Church, and Waugh also became involved with MADD. Both she and Peffley used to tell their personal stories as part of victim impact panels. Peffley raised public awareness; she pushed for tougher legislation, including the successful effort to reduce Indiana’s legal blood-alcohol limit from 0.10 to 0.08 percent; and she provided support to victims’ families during court proceedings, Waugh said.
Waugh said she’s deeply saddened by the death of her friend. “I know she’s with her Lord and Savior … and she’s holding hands with Delaine.”
Former Vigo County Prosecutor Phil Adler described Peffley as “a tireless and effective advocate for MADD. I think she more than almost anyone spread the word throughout the Wabash Valley of the dangers and serious consequences of driving while intoxicated.”
He believes she has raised awareness and affected behavior, causing people to call a cab or have a designated driver rather than get behind a wheel after drinking.
Kitty Greene, executive director of MADD Indiana, issued a public statement saying that Peffley’s “passion and commitment to saving lives will be deeply missed.”
Greene described Peffley as “a tough advocate for stronger anti-drunk driving laws and increased law enforcement. She provided support and advocacy to victims of this violent crime in the Wabash Valley and throughout the state.”
Peffley’s life changed in 1978 when her daughter was killed. Delaine Peffley was riding as a passenger on her way to Michigan City with a friend. An out-of-control drunken driver careened across four lanes of traffic and a median before smashing into the side of the car, killing her.
The driver spent just 44 days in jail after a court deemed the death “accidental.
It was the beginning of a new kind of life for Marilyn, who turned her outrage at her daughter’s death — and the justice system’s response to it — into positive action for change.
Wabash Valley MADD worked toward stiffer legislation both at the state and national levels; bought portable breath testers for police agencies; helped parents financially with alcohol-free, after-prom parties; operated a speaker’s bureau; staged numerous MADD DASH fundraising runs; worked with hundreds of victims of drunken driving crashes; and attended court for families who requested their presence.
Peffley won numerous awards for her efforts.
In the January interview, Peffley said of all her activities, she considered the victim impact panels to be the most significant and successful. MADD, in conjunction with the Vigo County Alcohol & Drug Program, staged scores of such panels, in which victims of drunken driving accidents and their families spoke to those who have been arrested for drunken driving.
Sgt. Joe Watts, public information officer with Indiana State Police, said Peffley was a staunch supporter of law enforcement in their mutual goal of eradicating drunken driving. “She’ll be sadly missed,” he said.
Among those who planned to attend Peffley’s visitation was Bob Lybarger of Lizton, whose parents — Marjory and Herschel — were killed in a drunken driving crash the day after Thanksgiving in 1989. The crash occurred on U.S. 40 at the west edge of Brazil.
For many years, Wabash Valley MADD and family members conducted a memorial at the site of the crash on its anniversary.
“[Peffley] is an outstanding person,” Bob Lybarger said. “It will be a great loss for Terre Haute.”
After the fatal crash, Peffley provided support to Bob Lybarger and other family members. With her passing, “Hopefully someone will pick up the torch and carry on,” he said.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
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