“Gene” was born June 19, 1923 in Chicago, IL. He was preceded in death by his father Hilding Peterson, mother Signe Peterson, younger brother Richard Peterson, and Gene’s wife of 64 years Margaret Bowman Peterson. He is survived by his sister Muriel Hesse, his daughter Margaret Ann Martin (Don), sons Timothy A. Peterson, C. Mark Peterson (Cindy), 4 granddaughters, Emily Ann Peterson, Anna Armstrong (Daniel), Angela Fiedler (Brock), Rachel Peterson – and 3 great grandchildren, Valerie and Claire Fiedler and Eli Armstrong. After high school, Gene volunteered for the US Marine Corps and served during World War II as a combat wireman in the 12th Marine Regimental Artillery of the Third Marine Division in the Pacific Theater. As a 20-year-old Private First Class, Gene experienced combat on Guadalcanal and later made amphibious landings with his fellow marines in the island battles of Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. He served with heroes then. He became a hero to his family and friends over the course of his life. After the war, Gene graduated from the University of Michigan. He spent most of his working life as an executive for the American Cancer Society with postings in Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and finally, Georgia – where he served as National Vice President for the Southeast Area. He lived in Atlanta for 52 years. In his retirement years, Gene wrote and published a memoir of his experience in the US Marine Corps, Still a PFC. Gene was a member of Mount Paran Church of God and participated in a variety of programs there. His devotion to his family, friends and co-workers will remain inspirational to those who knew him.
Gene will be remembered at a memorial service at Mount Paran Church, 2055 Mount Paran Road, Atlanta 30327, on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. The family will greet friends before the service at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow later at Georgia National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mount Paran Church of God Missions, 2055 Mount Paran Road, Atlanta, GA 30327 or the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.
