Date : 13 Dec 2006
Location : St. Michael's Cemetery, St. Florian, AL
Mr. Ernest Harold Peters, 82, of St. Florian, died Monday, Dec. 11, 2006, at ECM Hospital.
He was a native and lifelong resident of Lauderdale County, a lifelong member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and a U.S Army veteran of World War II.
Visitation was 5-9 p.m., Dec.12, 2006, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with a rosary service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. today, Dec. 13, 2006, in St. Michael's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Abbot Victor Clark, O.S.B., officiating. Burial will follow in St. Michael's Cemetery. Military funeral honors will be accorded at graveside.
Harold was retired from TVA and was a member of Retirement Systems of TVA and International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 660.
His time spent in service to his country in World War II was very special to him. He served in Squadron 737 of the 454th Bomb Group of the 15th Army Air Force. He was a radio operator on a B24J Liberator. His base was in Cerignola, Italy, while his squadron flew 36 missions against targets in Germany, Italy, Austria, Hungary and Romania.
Harold had a strong love for his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and for nature. He will lovingly be remembered as "Pop" Peters and as the "Pumpkin Man" in St. Florian for the last 42 years and for his participation in community stew and church barbecues.
Mr. Peters was preceded in death by a son, Marion Francis Peters; two grandsons, Jeffrey and Justin Czermak; parents, Frank and Mary Hoernig Stumpe Peters; sister; Pauline Schorn and husband, Vic; and four brothers, Ambrose Peters and wife, Flora, Frank Stumpe and wife, Florence, George and August Stumpe.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Helen Neidert Peters; children, David Peters and wife, Regina, Janet Peters Ragland and husband, Regan, Angie Peters Czermak and husband, John, Jimmy Peters and wife, Sherry, Gary Peters and wife, Sherry, and Ralph Peters and wife, Donna; grandchildren, Ashley and John Peters, Patrick, Katie and Kristen Ragland, Jessica Czermak and husband, Ben Petersen, Abby Thompson, Isaac, Shane and Danielle Peters, Alicia Kelly and husband, Chris, and Leslie Swinea; great-grandchildren, Eli Czermak and Sophia Petersen; brother, Henry Stumpe; brother-in-1aw, Clarence Neidert and wife, Martha; sisters-in-law, Annie Reeves and Mary Eleanor Weathers.
Pallbearers will be nephews, Carl Stumpe, Louis Stumpe, John Stumpe, Joe Reeves, and good friends Bill Connolly and Kevin Connolly.
Honorary pallbearers will include John Joe Peers, Richard Eckl and Dr. Robert Mann.
As he would always say when he left you, "Hold it in the road."
Memorials can be made to St. Michael's building fund or your favorite charity.
Greenview Funeral Home, of Florence, is directing.
Times Daily - Dec 13, 2006
