Donald Raymond Peterson died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002.
Donald Raymond Peterson died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002. He was 79.
A resident of Morgan Hill for 18 years, Peterson was born August 26, 1923, in Valley, Neb. He moved to California with his parents in 1934 and graduated from San Jose High School. During World War II he served in the Coast Guard and was honorably discharged in 1945. He then enrolled at San Jose State and upon graduating, began a 31-year career in education with his one and only employer, San Jose Unified School District. He was an elementary school teacher, vice principal and led Hester and later Washington Elementary Schools as principal.
He retired in 1980 and began volunteer work with the San Jose Police Department and continued to be an avid sports fan. Upon moving to Morgan Hill in 1984, he became an active member of the San Martin Presbyterian Church, where he did volunteer work and was in the choir.
Peterson is survived by his wife Mary Peterson; sons Cliff Peterson and his fiancé Lovinia of San Jose, David Peterson and his wife Mary Ellen of Morgan Hill, Eric Peterson and his wife Janet of Shoreline, Wash., and Jim Peterson and his wife Annette of Pleasanton; his sister Doris Worthington of Groveland; grandchildren Kim Chavez, Jeff, Matthew, Andrew, Emily, Eric, Stephen and Sarah Peterson and Anna Marie Palermo; and great grand children Brandon Peterson, Jaden Chavez and Harley Bahre-Palermo.
A memorial service will be held at the San Martin Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Jan. 12.
Memorial donations can be sent to the San Martin Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 13200 Lincoln Ave. San Martin, CA 95046.
