Ward E. Peterman

 

After a rich and rewarding life, Ward E. Peterman, 94, laid aside his tools when he died peacefully at home on Friday May 7, 2021 in Johnson City, NY.  Ward was born on the family farm in Muncy Valley, PA and started his education in a one room school house, and graduated with 18 years perfect attendance. Growing up on the family farm he learned many skills which made him a self-reliant man. He treasured life on the family farm and enjoyed nature, even planting forests of trees with his parents. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on a PBY as a gunner and as an in-flight airplane mechanic during WWII. After serving his country he completed a masonry trade school program and began a career in the building trades, eventually supervising the construction of the Wedgewood Heights development in Reading, PA. In addition to building homes for others, he built two homes for his own family and remodeled an 1898 house into the modern comfortable home for his wife and family. He was an award-winning woodworker and master weaver earning many blue ribbons for his fine work. His craftsmanship will be cherished in the many pieces of furniture, weavings, and wood turnings he gave to family and friends. One of his last accomplishments was using wood from trees grown on their farm to build cabinets for his barn conversion. Ward enjoyed many years of retirement and the times spent with his grandchildren and children and when asked he gladly passed on knowledge and skills via “the Ward way”. He was an avid gardener, woodsman and walker and will be dearly missed.

Ward retired as Head of Facilities Maintenance for Singer-Link in Hillcrest and Kirkwood after 25 years, having started as a pattern maker for The Link Flight Simulation in 1965. A member of the American Legion Post 601 and the Masons for over 50 years. 

Ward is survived by his children, Pamela Joyce Peterman of Ithaca, Eric Bruce Peterman (Doreen Hollenbeck) of Binghamton and Andrew John (JoAnne) Peterman of Franksville, WI; his grandchildren Jonathan, Wendi, Michelle, Jeremy, Joshua, Jason, Andrew II, Amanda, and Justin; great-grandchildren, Angelica, Aime, Joey, Sara, Marcus, Shaqira, Daliah, Jacob, Emerson, Andrew III, Harlee, Rilynn, Gabriela and Liam; great great-grandchildren, Sammy, Alex, Andrew, Genevieve, Daryl and Charlie; brother, Dan (Holly) Peterman; many nieces and nephews; his former wife Sara Trott & family; also  a special friend and caregiver Ruth West and her dog Pippi. Ward was predeceased by his parents, John and Ruth (Houseknecht) Peterman, brother John; sister’s Violet, Hilda and Adeline (both infants) sister-in-law’s Mary(John), Francis(Dan), daughter-in-law Patricia Peterman and by just eleven weeks, the mother of his children and love of his life, Alberta Loretta Peterman.

He will be buried in the family plot at Cherry Grove Cemetery, Muncy Valley, PA with military honors conferred by the U.S. Navy.

In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to: The Cherry Grove Cemetery Association, The American Legion Post 601, or The Arbor Day Foundation

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