Peter Jerome Karaffa

Peter Jerome Karaffa, born on February 3, 1941, in Baden, PA, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 84. He was preceded in death by his son, Steven; his father, John; his mother, Mary; his sister, Martha Goana; and his brothers, Joe, Charles, and John.

Peter is survived by his devoted wife of many years, Alice Karaffa; his son, Jeff (Iris) Karaffa; his cherished grandchildren, Riley and Kennedy Karaffa, Desiree Cuellar, Kourtney (Travis) Holst, and Myranda Tomb; his beloved great-grandson, Micah Ramirez; his brother, Mike (Dawn) Karaffa; and his brother-in-law, Jim (Patsy) Ward. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

Peter's educational journey began in his hometown of Baden, PA, where he attended high school. Later, while serving in the U.S. Air Force, he continued his education, earning college course credits. He attended SAC NCO Leadership School, 15th AF NCO Academy and Senior NCO Academy. He enlisted in the Air Force at the age of seventeen and proudly served his country for 24 years before retiring in 1982.While in the Air Force, he was awarded the Meritorious service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Joint Service Commendation Medal; AF Commendation Medal; Air Force Good Conduct Medal with One Silver and One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, and NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon.

In 1983, Peter moved with his wife and son to Saudi Arabia, where he worked for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation. He returned home briefly before the First Gulf War, and then returned to Saudi Arabia after it had concluded working for Boeing. In 1996, Peter moved back to San Antonio to begin his long-awaited retirement, but his passion for work never ceased. He took up a job at a local liquor store, working part-time, before joining Raytheon Aerospace as a contractor for the Air Force. Later, when Raytheon was succeeded by L3 Communications, Peter continued to work there until his final retirement in 2011.

Peter was known for his love of family, particularly his grandchildren, whom he adored. He enjoyed a variety of hobbies, including woodworking, tinkering in the garage, cutting the yard, and spending time in his backroom game room/bar. He was a fan of watching Wheel of Fortune and wrestling, and most notably, he loved playing his lottery numbers.

Peter will be fondly remembered for his infectious sense of humor, his quirky habit of falling asleep wherever he sat, and his hearty laugh when watching TV. He had a constant desire to help around the house, often offering to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. His playful requests for winning lottery numbers from wait staff at restaurants, his complaints about his slow-running PC, and his deep love for his family will always be cherished by those who knew him.

Peter Jerome Karaffa leaves behind a lasting legacy of love, humor, and dedication to his family and country. He will be greatly missed but forever in our hearts.

A visitation for Peter will be held Monday, March 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Sunset North Funeral Home, 910 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, Texas 78232, followed by a celebration of life at 12:00 PM. A committal service will occur Monday, March 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78209.