William Donald Peters

William Donald Peters, 84, passed away April 18, 2010, in Northglen, Colorado. He was born October 31, 1925 to Laurence D. and Mary Faye Ensey Peters in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Don was seven and his sister Joyce Mae was five when the family moved from Ponca City to Cincinnati, Ohio. In Cincinnati, Mr. Peters entered the Conservatory of Music to work on a Master's Degree in piano. Mr. Peters graduated in the spring of 1934 and had planned to move his family to California to pursue his career in Music. Following what was to be a brief stay in Oklahoma, Mr. Peters changed his plans when he saw the poor health of his grandparents and the family at that time moved onto the farm in Retrop. Don and his sister Joyce were the best of friends. Living on a farm, they had cows, pigs, chickens, a vegetable garden and an orchard. They naturally had chores to do like milking cows & churning butter, but they also had time to explore and to play together. They especially enjoyed climbing the trees in the orchard and climbing up to the loft in the barn to play. At school, Don and Joyce had many friends to play with. During one recess, Joyce saw that Don and another boy were ""fighting"" and Don was on the ground with the other boy on top of him. Joyce ran and jumped on the boy, pummeling him with her fists and yelling for him to leave her brother alone. It turned out the boys were friends and just having fun wrestling. They were all amused that little sister came to help big brother. In 1938, the family moved to Hobart. Don attended Hobart High School where he played the coronet, French horn, and bass at various times in the School Band. He appeared in three plays, one being a musical with a solo singing part; was class President, had some honor awards; worked in Boy Scouts; had part-time after school jobs at Burr's Dept store, later a soda jerk at Boothe's Drug store, and still later a clerk working in the Harter Clothing store. After graduating from High School, Don attended one semester at Oklahoma University, and then volunteered for the Navy V5 program that sent him to college at Warrensburg, Missouri. After about a year and a half, he transferred from the Navy V5 (aviator) program to the V12 program. This program was for regular Line officer training. Out of about 400 graduating from Warrensburg to higher education, he was one of three transferred to O.U. at Norman, where he continued college and graduated with a B.S. degree in 1946. He was given secret communications training at Coronado Navy base near Oakland, assigned later to an LST and made the Hawaii Islands just after the war ended, as a very green and Sea Sick young Ensign that stood his watch with a bucket between his feet. After leaving the Navy, Don returned on the G.I. Bill of Rights to O.U. and set a goal to be a doctor of medicine. After applying 3 straight years for Medical school, (each year had 3000 applicants, and only Doctors' sons were accepted) he gave up, after 357 college hours. Don married Carolyn Jane Brower and moved to Borger, Texas, working as a salesman for B.F. Goodrich Tires and appliances. From Borger he was transferred to a B.F. Goodrich at Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City, and after a year, quit to work for Graybar Electric Company. That career extended for 33 years more when he retired in 1984. Don was an active Mason for 63 years. He was a York Rite Mason, a Scottish Rite Mason, a past Master of his Lodge, Past Commander of his Commandery, Past Thrice Illustrious Master of his Council, and Past High Priest of his Chapter. Don is survived by daughters, Denisa Bogart and Cynthia Christensen; grandchildren, Samantha Bogart, Callie Flanagan; and sister, Joyce Peters Wheeler. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn on October 22, 2004. There will be no formal services. Don's ashes will be buried in the family plot near Retrop, Oklahoma.