Ralph Douglas Peters

PETERS, RALPH DOUGLAS COL. (Ret) long time resident of Riverside, CA, and current resident of Air Force Village West, died on 1/5/07, at Riverside Community Hospital at the age of 86. Ralph "Pete" Peters was born in Boise, Idaho, on March 19, 1920 to Paul Nicholas Peters of Mt. Carmel, IL and Gertrude Elizabeth Rhodenbaugh of Dennison, IA. He graduated from Boise High School and earned his BA from the University of Oregon in 1941. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Fraternity. While at the Pentagon Colonel Peters received his M.A. from University of Maryland. He served in the U.S. Army for 30 years, attaining the rank of colonel, and retiring in 1971. As a lieutenant in 1941, he was an infantry company commander assigned to the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord and was later transferred to the Presidio in San Francisco. During this time while on anti-sabotage duty, he was stationed in Oroville, CA, where he met his future wife, Yoeman 2/c Doris Marjorie Hefner of the WAVES. In June, 1942, he was sent to the Aleutian Islands with the 53rd Infantry Division until returning to Camp Shelby, MS in 1944. He served in China until after WWII in 1947, when he accepted a regular Army appointment, serving commands in Infantry, Armor, Calvary and Military Intelligence, all over the world, with assignments in Germany, Korea, Australia, Kentucky, Arlington, VA, Illinois and Kansas. In Seoul, Korea, he was the commanding officer of EASCOMs 19th General Support Group. Col. Peters was united in marriage to Doris Marjorie Hefner, of Oroville, CA, on 12/16/45. His son, Douglas Paul Peters, was born on 6/25/48, and Col. Peters was joined six months later by his wife and son in Yokosuka, Japan, where he was serving as a captain at the Fifth Cavalry Headquarters. Robert Edwin Peters was born 10/27/50 in Fort Knox, KY. During his service, Col. Peters was also selected to attend the Australian Army Staff College, and was promoted to Colonel on 12/9/64 while at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Col. Peters is survived by his son, Douglas Paul Peters and wife Angela Cheney, both of Grand Forks, ND; his son Robert Edwin Peters and his wife Kathryn (Bouma) Peters, both of San Diego, CA; his sister, Virginia Walstra of Boise, ID; grandchildren Scott Cheney-Peters stationed in Yokosuka, Japan; Brian Cheney-Peters, Columbia, MO, Dianna Cheney-Peters, Washington, DC; Christine Peters and Julia Peters, both of San Diego, CA. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Doris Marjorie (Hefner), on 1/7/06 and his parents. Pete was a man of many interests, and particularly loved to play golf. He greatly enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping with family and friends. He was an avid reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles, and as a young man, played the clarinet. He was known for his affable spirit and welcoming personality, had many friends, but above all, loved his family and was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held at the Air Force Village West Convocation Center on Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with Graveside Services to follow at 1:15 pm, at the Riverside National Cemetery where Pete will be buried next to Doris. Preston and Simons Mortuary Directors (951) 683-7410