On January 1st, 2024 Wesley Paul Peterson passed away at the age of 102 after a brief illness. He lived a long and wonderful, joyful life.
He was born on June 22, 1921 in Turlock, CA to Amy & Paul Peterson. He grew up on a dairy farm in Hilmar and attended schools in the community, graduating high school in 1938. He was a student at Modesto Junior College for two years and then transferred to U.C. Berkeley where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1942. World War II then interrupted his education. He served as a financial technician in the Army Air Corps for more than three years both in the states and the mid-Pacific. With two bronze battle stars to his credit, he was honorably discharged in late November 1945. He returned to U.C. Berkeley the following year and obtained a general secondary teaching credential. Subsequently he would earn a Master of Arts degree in History at the University of Southern California.
He began his teaching career at Chowchilla High School where he spent six years teaching primarily United States history. He moved to southern California in 1953 where he taught both U.S. history and California history at Torrance High School for thirty years. Concurrently he taught night classes with the Torrance Adult School for approximately a dozen years.
In 1957 he married Jean Barnett, a young widow with three small children, Dian, Gary, and Rhonda. They were to have two more children together, Kevin and Todd, the latter dying in infancy. He and his wife spent twenty-seven happy years together enjoying family summer vacations in the Santa Cruz coastal ranges, weekend southern California beach outings, and year around gardening. Unfortunately serious diabetes related health issues caused Jean’s untimely death in December 1984. In 1986, Wes returned to his central valley roots where he married Phyllis Beatty in 1993.
Outside of teaching and family life, Wes’s major passions were travel and music. He traveled with Jean and Phyllis extensively within the lower 48 states with an emphasis on historical sites and national parks. He visited Australia and New Zealand and made several trips to the British Isles, western Europe, and Hawaii. Musically he performed in high school operettas, sang in the Modesto Junior College chorus and the Modesto Senior Spotlight. For more than 25 years he has volunteered at nursing homes and assisted-care facilities playing keyboard and singing.
He was an active member of Hilmar Covenant Church serving as a deacon and singing in the choir. He was an honorary life member of S.I.R. (Sons In Retirement), a member of the California Retired Teachers Association, and the Hilmar-Irwin-Stevenson Historical Society. He was predeceased by his parents Amy and Paul Peterson, his wife Jean Louise Peterson, his wife Phyllis Peterson, his infant son Todd Brian Peterson, his daughter Rhonda Kim Peterson, his son Gary Barnett, and his brother Larry Peterson. He is survived by his children Kevin (Rebecca) Peterson and Dian Peterson as well as six grandchildren, one great grandchild, 3 great great grandchildren, and three nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Hilmar Covenant Church on Saturday, 13th of January at 10:30am. Interment will precede on Thursday, January 11th at 1:00pm at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hilmar Covenant Church Memorial Fund (P.O. Box 340, Hilmar, CA 95324) or to a favorite charity.
Leave a Condolence