Ursula Marie Peters

Ursula grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Prospect Heights High School. She went on to attend Wagner College in Staten Island, New York, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Later, she received her master’s degree in education from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.

She and her former husband, John Robert Peters, built a family that remained the center of Ursula’s life.

Ursula devoted her life to teaching and nurturing young minds. She began her career teaching third grade in Long Island, New York. After moving to Texas, she continued her calling at multiple elementary schools in the Richardson area. In addition to elementary education, she also taught ESL to adults, sharing her love of learning with students of all ages.

A faithful and active member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Richardson, Texas, Ursula served as organist, President of WELCA, choir member, and children’s choir leader. She helped organize Christmas pageants, worked closely with the Oromo (Ethiopian) congregation to encourage children’s participation in church programs, and sponsored a refugee family from Cambodia. She taught music at St. Luke’s faithfully sharing her gift of music for over five decades.

Ursula had a deep passion for music and especially loved playing the organ. She found joy in gardening, was an avid traveler, and enjoyed outdoor activities. Above all, she treasured time spent visiting her grandchildren.

Ursula’s life was one of faith, music, service, and love. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched as a teacher, musician, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Ursula is survived by her children; Lynn Turner and husband Bill, Debra Parks and husband Jonathan, James Peters and wife Erin, and Barbara Baselice and husband Mark; grandchildren Jennifer, Ryan and wife Heather, Gregory, Kelsey and husband Stephen, Clayton and wife Kayli, Cameron and wife Audrey, Alison and Alex, as well as her great-grandchildren Kimberly, Ardyn, Ethan, and Eli.

Ursula was preceded in death by her sister Barbara Mary Elizabeth Henriksen and brother Ernest Wilhelm Helmke.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 12:30 pm, with visitation preceding the service at 11:00 am in St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 1210 W. Belt Line Road, Richardson, Texas. Interment will follow at Restland Cemetery, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. A link is provided below.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Kelli Culver, her caring church family, and all caregivers who provided loving support and care.