Homer Franklin Peterson

Born October 14, 1911 in Kamiah, Idaho, died October 25, 2012 in Lynnwood, WA. He was the second son of Homer L. and Margaret L Billups Peterson. He grew up in several towns in west-central Idaho where his father was a rural schoolteacher. While in college at the University of Idaho, he served in the Army National Guard Cavalry and after graduating, he joined the Army Air Corps, completed pilot training and flew the Martin B-10 bomber. He became a pilot for United Air Lines in 1937 where he met a stewardess, Mary E. Dunlap. They were married March 4, 1938. Together they raised four children: Richard F., Brentwood, CA., Thomas L., Medford, OR., Mary E. DaHaven, Centralia, WA. and Nancy L. Slye, Des Moines, WA. He has 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. In 1946 he moved his family to Seattle where he flew as Captain for United. He retired from United in 1969 with over 33,000 hours of flying in the Boeing 247, DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7 and DC-8 airliners. After he retired they moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ to get away from the rain. They roamed the desert, collected rocks and traveled much of North America in motor homes until moving back to Washington in 1988. He enjoyed playing the organ and played for Sunday services and lunch-hour performances nearly every day at the Franciscan Health Care Center where his wife stayed until her death in 1997. When he was 97 and no longer wishing to live alone, he moved to the Aegis Assisted Living center in Lynnwood where he passed away a few days after celebrating his 101st birthday. He led an active life and maintained an avid interest in all his family and their activities.