Lyle Peterson, age 86, born in Moline, Ill., passed away peacefully on Saturday Nov.10, 2012 at home surrounded by his family, in Lillian.
He spent his early years in Illinois then the family moved to Pensacola. He attended Pensacola High School then joined the Army Air Corp 17, Nov. 1943. After his service he attended Auburn University. His uncle Burch taught him to fly and his parents purchased a military surplus Stearman airplane so he could come home from college to visit. He received his engineering degree and started his career with MacDonnell Douglas in St Louis but it was too cold there. Then his work for Merritt Chapman Scott took him to New York and Valdosta, Ga. He then came home to Pensacola and started work for St. Regis Paper Company and met his wife of many years, Skippy Duchac, at the paper company. Shortly afterwards he began working for Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) at NAS Mainside. He enjoyed many years of motorcycle riding, camping, attending elder hostels and traveling with his family. He was a 33rd degree mason, a past master, and was active in the Lillian Lodge 925 and the Scottish Rite and Shrine in Pensacola. After retirement from civil service in 1984 he helped part-time at his son’s engineering business. He worked with his Masonic brothers and was on the Lillian Action Committee to do his part for the community. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family, wife, Skippy; children, Clancy (Larry); Gregory (Ling), Lyetta (Rich), Anita (John), Bret (Lisa); and grandchildren, Shannon, Colleen, Kevin, Damian, Robert, Jeffrey, David, Paul, Rachel, Brian, Mark, Amy and one great-grandson, Kellen. A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Lillian, on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at 3 p.m. Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. Elberta. To post online condolences, visit www.wolfefuneralhomes.com.
