Obituary of James S. Peters

James Edwin Sutton Peters was born January 14, 1928 in a farmhouse along Peters Road in Stamford, New York. He remembered starting the fire kettle at the one-room schoolhouse and hauling water. When he was 16 he was smitten by the beauty of a new classmate, Barbara Ring. His future wife became queen of the Prom for their graduating high school class of 16 seniors in 1945. James enlisted at the end of World War II and served 18 months. Part of his tour included an assignment in the Tokyo compound of Supreme Post-War Commander in Japan, General Douglas MacArthur. Thanks to the G.I. Bill, he graduated from Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY with a Bachelor's Degree in Business. His college days included a memorable stint playing the sousaphone in the marching band. James was preceded in death by his father, Richard, mother Virginia, sister Betty, and great grandson Timothy Peters. He married the vision of his youth and is survived by his wife of 58 years Barbara (Ring) Peters, sons James Conwell (Kathy) Peters, and Richard Gordon (Mary Beth) Peters, and daughter Lois Priscilla (Kevin) Hickey. Surviving sisters are Mary Lou Bellinger, Miriam Lutz, and Joan Tuttle. Grandchildren are Priscilla (Keith) Banes, Erica (Jamie) Fountain, Melissa (Steven) Anderson, Mary Peters, Nicole (William) Dillon, Benjamin Peters, Christopher Peters, and Jeanne Hickey, and 11 great-grandchildren. James was a member of First Congregational Church in Jamestown where he served as a trustee. Jim will be remembered for his warm wit, jokes and wry sense of humor. He had an intellectual curiosity that led him to read many great works of science and literature, including the Bible several times from cover to cover. He loved his family and enjoyed his time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Jim's jobs included working on his family's farm, as a store stocker at Loblaw's, insurance salesman, investment broker at Goodbody and Company, later Merrill Lynch, and before retirement worked for Chautauqua County as a financial investigator for social services. A memorial service will be held at noon Thursday in the Lind Funeral Home. Rev. Thomas Burian will officiate. Friends will be received for one hour prior to the service Thursday in the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to the Kidney Foundation or the Heart Association. You may light a candle in remembrance of Jim at www.lindfuneralhome.com