Robert Pugh Peterson

Pete is greatly missed by his wife, Lois Peterson, son, Alan Peterson and his wife, Kim of Virginia Beach, as well as grandchildren, Catherine, Kelsey, David, and Mike and their families, all from Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Step-children, Jeff Rumley and John Rumley of Hampton, and Lisa Sawin of Williamsburg, along with step-grandchildren, Courtney Williams, Ryan Hux, Samantha Murray, John Rumley, and Elise Culp also mourn the passing of this gentle man.

Born in Roseboro, North Carolina on 27 February, 1929, Robert (that’s what the family called him) was one of 8 children of Colin and Sybil Peterson. Theirs was a ‘share-cropper’ existence into the 1960’s when the siblings gathered together to purchase a small farm for their parents. He was an above average student in local schools and graduated in 1946 at the age of 17. He was the next to the last in line of his siblings and the last of them to leave this earth.

Washington DC was Robert’s next stop, spending about 18 months in DC working at various odd jobs while living with friends from back home. He never spoke much of this time, and we never really knew why.

Robert then followed in the footsteps of three of his older brothers and moved to Newport News, Virginia to attend the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School. Robert became known as Pete during his years in the Apprentice School. He trained in the trade of sheet metal mechanic, graduating in 1952. Following graduation he worked for a few years on the waterfront in his trade before applying for a position in the ‘drafting’ department. It was this move into engineering which would define the balance of his work life.

Pete was one of the ‘old guard’ of engineers who rose through on-the-job training to work as an engineer rather than attending an engineering school. During his tenure at NNS he contributed to building many surface ships, including the SS United States passenger liner and initial design of the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier.

Starting in the early 70’s he moved full time into design and construction of submarines, initially being the Engineering Liaison Manager between the waterfront trades and design departments for the USS Los Angeles… the first of the Type 688, Fast Attack Submarines which helped win the Cold War.

Retiring in 1989, at the age of 60 as an Engineering Manager, he left behind a dedicated and talented group from what he called “The best shipbuilding engineering team in the world.” With normal challenges and frustrations we all associate with work… Pete managed to love his years at NNS, and the people with whom he collaborated. It was his life for a very long time.

Newport News Shipbuilding was Pete’s workplace for 46 years, 6 months, 17 days.

During his years in the Apprentice School, Pete met Florence Hunt Peterson of Hampton, and after two years of courtship, they married on his birthday… February 27, 1952.

Shortly after marriage, Pete was drafted into the US Army. He was assigned to the Corps of Engineers and stationed at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He remained in the Army for one hitch, then returned to NNS. While at Ft. Knox, Pete and Florence landed their only child, Robert Alan Peterson.

Returning to Hampton, the young couple purchased their first home at 19 Cavalier Road just off King Street and not far from Langley Air Force Base. They remained in this home for about 8 years. During this time Pete usually held two jobs in order to put away funds for the future.

In 1962 Pete and Florence built their ‘forever’ home at 116 Stonehurst Road, also in Hampton. Pete would live in this home until the year 2000.

In the 1960’s Pete was active in the North/South Skirmish Association as a Civil War reenactor. He was associated with Troop C, of the 4th Virginia Calvary. The family traveled with him all over the mid-Atlantic region to competition events and battlefield reenactments for many years. He even made his own ammunition in the garage for his .50 caliber 1865 Springfield musket… because it was the frugal thing to do.

Through these early years Pete and Florence were active at East Hampton Methodist Church… Florence’s home church. Pete taught Sunday School, served on many committees, and acted as Lay Leader on more than one occasion. They remained a part of this church family until Florence’s passing.

Pete lived a life dedicated to serving those around him. He displayed this passion in many ways, volunteering at church, being a member of the Wythe Exchange Club, serving on the Board of Hampton General Hospital and then the board of Sentara Health Systems. He was an outstanding ‘servant leader’.

His contribution to Hampton General Hospital, and then to the Sentara Health System included helping design and commission the Sentara Hampton Careplex facility and several others. On behalf of Sentara, Pete and Florence traveled all over the United States attending conferences of ‘The American Not For Profit Hospital Association’. In this role they met many great people who became long term friends and promoted the Sentara organization with success.

We would love to know how many Christmas trees Pete personally sold while working the Wythe Exchange Club Christmas Tree Lot. He did this annually for more than 45 years… that’s a lot of trees! His time with the Exchange Club spanned more than 60 years of service to his community! He had many good and faithful friends through this affiliation.

In 1999, Florence preceded Pete in death, marking the end of a long chapter of his life. The following year, Pete was blessed to marry Lois Rumley, moving from life as a widower, into a life of rich blessing and new adventures. Lois and her children did a great job of embracing Pete, and filling his days with fun, joy, and much to do.

Lois and Pete were initially members of Hampton Baptist Church, and then Steven’s Memorial Baptist Church. Pete remained a Methodist at heart however… never choosing to be baptized in the Baptist church.

In 2010 Pete was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The remaining seven years of his life were a mixture of blessings on good days and challenges on not so good days as the disease ran its course. Throughout it all, Robert Pugh (Pete) Peterson remained… a man of gentle spirit, courteous to all he encountered, positive in outlook, and willing to smile even when there was not much to smile about.

Pete was a class act to the end, and will be remembered as such with much fondness, for many years to come.