Virgil C. Peterson

1940 - 2018

February 8, 1940 - May 11, 2018
Virgil C. Peterson, long time teacher, coach, religious leader, sports official, and community service member died of congestive heart failure on May 11, 2018. Affectionately known as "Coach Pete" by students, colleagues, and friends, his kind caring, and generous heart finally gave out.
The only child of Hilmer and Evelyn Bergman Peterson, he was born in San Antonio and lived all but five years of his life there. He was a graduate of Thomas Edison High School and Trinity University. He served in the U.S. Army and after that began teaching and coaching at Highlands High School where he stayed for 30 years, retiring in 1995. At Highlands he was the assistant baseball coach for the 1968 State Championship team. Later he was the golf coach. In addition, he was a baseball and softball umpire and basketball official for many years. He also kept the statistics for the Fighting Owls football team, even continuing after his retirement. He also coached academic contests as well with his team winning the State UIL Current Issues and Events contest in 1994.
After his parents' deaths, he used his inheritance to establish a college scholarship fund for Highlands students which benefited more than 60 students. Even though he never married and had no children of his own, his legacy of generosity and support lives on in the success of these students and the thousands of others he influenced through his teaching and positive support over his lifetime.

He was a long time member of Mac Arthur Park Lutheran Church, but after retirement he became a lay minister at Crestholme Presbyterian Church for ten years until his death. He was also an award winning member of Rotary Club, former President of San Antonio Area Retired Teachers Association, and eager traveler to just about any destination. He loved cruises and had taken four to Alaska.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at Mac Arthur Park Lutheran Church. Interment of his ashes will be at a later date.