Peter Budicker

Peter Budicker, 81, of East Stroudsburg, was called home to God on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at St. Luke's Hospital, Fountain Hill. He was preceded in death by his wife, the late June (Kemmerer) Budicker, who passed in 2003.

Born May 16, 1927, in East Stroudsburg, he was a son of the late Hans and Hilda (Adloff) Buedicker.

He was a member of the first football team at East Stroudsburg High School in 1944, and was a key player on the varsity basketball team. He graduated in 1945, but could not attend commencement, as he joined the U.S. Navy.

He served on the USNTC Sampson, USS Apollo, and USS Orion, where he was a submarine tender in the Panama Canal during World War II. He was awarded the American Theater Ribbon and Victory Medal.

He attended Ryder College with a major in accounting.

He worked at Bethlehem Steel in the shipping office as a bookkeeper, and in 1950 he went to work for the East Stroudsburg Post Office as a letter carrier.

He was an avid swimmer and was a lifeguard at Dansbury Park. During the Flood of '55, he swam across the raging Brodhead Creek to find his parents, whose home near Dansbury Park was ravaged by the flood. He finally found them at Lanterman's Funeral Home, the gathering place for those who were survivors.

In 1956, he married his lifelong sweetheart, June, and they spent their lives together through thick and thin. They loved to fish together and kept in close contact while he was "back at the cabin" hunting with the guys.

He played an integral part in the upbringing of his grandsons, Aaron and Trevor, whom he loved and cherished deeply. He was always in attendance at either of their musical events or baseball games. As a father, he was perfect in every way, loved his son-in-law as his own son and will be forever in Jacki and Doyle's hearts.

He was well-known in the community and brightened the lives of whomever he met with his cheerful smile. He was a truly kind and gentle man.

He was also a member of the Pennsylvania National Rural Carriers Association; the National Association of Retired Federal Employees; the CLU Club; the American Legion George M. Kemp Post; Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 1106; and the Roseto Rod and Gun Club.

Surviving are a daughter, Jacqueline VanGorden and her husband, Doyle, of Stroudsburg; two grandchildren, Aaron and Trevor VanGorden, both of Stroudsburg; an aunt; and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at Christ Hamilton Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Renato Zuniga Memorial Scholarship, Attention Scholarship Department, East Stroudsburg School District, 321 N. Courtland St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.


&dateline;27 Washington St.,

East Stroudsburg