Robert Peters
Robert Peters
March 03, 1922 – January 19, 2011
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., Saturday January 22, 2011 at First Baptist Church of Grinnell, Iowa
Interment: at a later date. , at Lower Blue Point Cemetery near Grinnell, Iowa.
Bob was born on March 30, 1922, in Grinnell, Iowa to John and Mary Hutchison Peters. He was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1940. He also attended the University of Iowa and later received a BA Degree from the University of Maryland graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1964. On October 26. 1941, he was married to Mini Bel (Mim) Taylor in Grinnell, Iowa. In March of 1943, Bob entered the Army Air Corps and became a navigator. He flew his first of 35 missions in the European Theatre on June 6, 1944 (D Day). Following the war he returned to the United States and became an instructor to navigator candidates. During the Korean Conflict he flew an additional 33 combat missions until his last mission on December 4, 1951. He was a highly decorated veteran whose combat ribbons include two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters. Bob retired from the Air Force in July of 1967 while he was stationed at the Oxnard Air Force Base in Camarillo, CA. He was an active member of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society in the last several years. Following his military career he spent 25 years as an appraiser with the Ventura County Assessor’s Office in California. Bob and Mim lived in Camarillo, California and moved to Grinnell in September 1991.
He enjoyed playing bridge, reading, music and traveling around the world.
He is survived by his wife, Mim Peters of Grinnell; one son, Steven (Sheri) Peters of Lancaster, CA; two daughters, Rhonda Whitehead of Grinnell and Robyn (Mark) Buenz of Prior Lake, MN; 8 grandchildren; and 18 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, William Robert Peters; his parents; and one sister, Anne Rohr.
Memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church of Grinnell, the Lower Blue Point Church at Heritage Park or to the Eighth Air Force Historical Society in Pooler, Georgia.
Source: Smith Funeral Home
