Ralph Welton Peters Jr.

Ralph W. (Pete) Peters, Jr., 80, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife and sons. A man of strength, humility, deep faith, and quiet love, Pete lived a life devoted to family and service with integrity.

Born on January 23, 1945, to Ralph and Wilhelmina Peters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, while Pete’s father was serving in the Army.

Shortly after Pete’s birth, during wartime, his mother received word that her husband was a POW. She took her baby to West Virginia to live with her husband’s parents. By God’s grace, Pete’s father was eventually released, and the family returned to North Carolina.

After moving several times, the family settled in Durham, North Carolina, where Pete met his future wife, Joyce. They married in 1966, beginning a partnership marked by balance and devotion, with Pete providing strength and steadiness. In the years that followed, they became the proud parents of two sons, Jay and Brian.

An accomplished athlete, Pete excelled in high school sports and was inducted into the Northern High Sports Hall of Fame. He continued his love for basketball at Brevard College, where he was also inducted into the Brevard College Sports Hall of Fame.

Through ROTC, Pete entered the Army and served honorably in Vietnam with the Army Corps of Engineers, building roads and bridges under challenging conditions. After his active-duty service, Pete continued his commitment to his country through more than 20 years in the North Carolina National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Having completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering at North Carolina State University, Pete dedicated his career to engineering and public service. He worked with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Cooper Tools before founding his successful consulting business, The Maintenance Excellence Institute.

During this time, he authored several books that continue to be used as college textbooks and provided opportunities for him to travel worldwide, conducting maintenance seminars and training programs.

A man of strong Christian faith, Pete was a longtime member of North Raleigh United Methodist Church, where he served in various capacities. His favorite role was teaching third-grade Sunday School for many years and serving on the building committees. Pete believed that all young people should have a seed of faith planted to guide them on their Christian journey. He lived out this belief by giving countless Bibles to young adults he coached in basketball, to students, and to his grandchildren. His calm presence and gentle spirit left a lasting impression on many in his community.

Pete will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He led by quiet example, teaching through his actions what it means to live with integrity, kindness, and faith.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Joyce; his sons, Ralph W. “Jay” Peters III (Courtney) and William Brian Peters (Jennifer); his brother, Larry Peters; and his sister, Jane Davison (Laird).

He is also survived by the loves of his life—his three grandchildren, Dylan, Cameron, and Olivia—as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Transitions Hospice, especially Kim and MeiMei, along with caregivers Linda, Jackie, Margaret, and Wendy, for their compassionate care.

A celebration of Pete’s life will be held at North Raleigh United Methodist Church, 8501 Honeycutt Road, on Monday, October 13th, with visitation at 12:00 noon and the memorial service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will immediately follow at Briercreek Memorial Gardens with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Transitions Hospice or US Veterans Corp.

https://www.transitionslifecare.org/donate

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