William Peterson

William R. Peterson, age 88, of Shell Point Retirement Community, and formerly of Erie, went to be with his Lord on Monday, April 6, 2015 at his residence in Ft. Myers, FL.

Bill was born in Cleveland, OH, on July 18, 1926, the son of the late Colvin Atwell and Lena Rhiel Peterson.

He was an Army veteran of World War II having served in the European Theatre as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Bill was a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School, in 1944, and Ohio State University where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Engineering Honor Society. He graduated with both a Mining Engineering and a Master of Engineering Degrees in 1950. Bill was a passionate Buckeye and Steelers fan and enjoyed games with his grandsons.

Bill began his career as a Mining Engineer in the coal mines of West Virginia. He then moved to Chicago as a Design Engineer. In 1959, he relocated his family to Erie where he worked for General Electric as a Product Design Engineer until his retirement in 1992.

Bill was a loving and devoted husband and father who lived his life with integrity, humility and compassion. While in Erie, he devoted many hours to volunteering at Habitat for Humanity and CHOSEN. When in Florida, he enjoyed helping the Shell Point community in the UPS Mailroom, Orchid Greenhouse and Model Train Room. Bill was known as a kind and joyful man who enjoyed golf, bridge, and crossword puzzles, but was happiest spending time with his family. He also deeply loved his pets, most recently dog, Laddie and cat, Millie. Bill had a strong faith and was involved at Lakewood United Methodist Church in Erie and Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Hugh and Colvin Jr. (Fritz) Peterson, and his first wife Isobel. He is survived by his wife Lucille Dietrich Peterson; three daughters, Sheryl Lefavi and her husband Bruce, of Salt Lake City, UT, Lisa Karle and her husband James, and Lauri Enterline and her husband Brad, of Erie; one stepson Walter Richard Tawes and his wife Barbara, of Dunellen, NJ, two stepdaughters, Margaret Eatman and her husband Dennis, of Vashon WA, Elizabeth Thomas and her husband Scott, of Minneapolis, MN, 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Fred Peterson, of Rome, OH, sister Nancy Johnson, of Sun City, AR and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Burton West Lake Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th Street, on Friday April 17th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and are invited to attend a service at the Lakewood United Methodist Church Saturday April 18th at 10:30 am.

A private burial for the family will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Lakewood United Methodist Church or Sanibel Congregational Church 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33954. There will be a memorial service at Shell Point at a later date.

Send condolences at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com <http://www.Burtonfuneralhome.com>.