Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
December 29, 2015
Memory Eternal! Father Richard Peters of Williamston, MI, died at home on December 23, 2015. He was 78.
He was also born at home—the second of three sons born to Bertha and Dietrich Peters—on April 3, 1937, in Lansing. He graduated from Eaton Rapids high school, where he excelled in baseball, football, and basketball. He matriculated at Central Michigan University, where he met Janet Briggs of Scottville, Michigan. They were married in 1957.
A history major and ROTC cadet at Central, he was elected Student Body President his senior year, 1958, and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. He was a commissioned officer and an Airborne Ranger in the United States Army. In 1964, after six years of military service, including an assignment at the Pentagon in the Adjutant General's Corps, he resigned his commission at the rank of Captain and returned to Michigan to join the Officer's Christian Fellowship, which inaugurated his fifty-one year career in Christian ministry.
In 1968 he took a position teaching history and Bible at Lansing Christian School, where he also coached basketball and track. He served briefly as Principal and then became the school's third Superintendent, a position he held from 1972-1981. He was also at this time a pastor—beginning at Lakeside Chapel in Bath—before being received into the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1988, whereupon he was ordained a priest and became the first pastor of St. James Antiochian Orthodox Church in Williamston. He served St. James for twenty-seven years until his death.
Father Richard is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years; by their three children: Margo (David) Sinkevitch, Jason (Kristin), and Calvin; by their grandchildren: Emma, Dietrich, Jakob, and Wyatt; and by his brothers: Leonard (Marilyn) and Dean (Carleen), both of Eaton Rapids.
The funeral was held on Monday, December 28, 11:00 a.m. at St. James, followed by burial at Dormition of the Mother of God Orthodox Monastery, Rives Junction.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. James Orthodox Church, Dormition Monastery, or Lansing Christian School.
The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Lansing Chapel. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family atwww.grlansing.com.
