Robert Melvin “Bob” Peters, 85, of Ashville, passed away, June 25, 2016, at his home with family by his bedside.
He was born Nov. 29, 1930, in Jackson Twp., the son of Ralph E. and Rose (Davis) Peters.
Bob served in the Ohio National Guard for nine years, worked for Columbus & Southern Ohio Electric Company as a lab technician for 38 years, worked at Dick’s Hardware for five years and worked as an attendant at Oliver-Cheek Funeral Home for 28 years.
He was active at Zion UMC, running the sound system for over 30 years. He was a lifetime member of Ashville Knights of Pythian, Palmetto Lodge 513, a member of Pickaway Senior Center, Century Club member of the American Cancer Society, member of the Ashville Area Heritage Society and honorary member of the Ashville Community Club.
Bob volunteered 12 years for Relay For Life and received the nickname of “Jug Head” as he lined the track of the Teays Valley High School with as many as 1,200 milk jugs per year used for luminaries in honor of a cancer survivor or in memory of a cancer patient. He also started the placement of the milk jugs in the bleachers to spell out the word “HOPE.”
Bob received a Certificate of Appreciation for Efforts and Contributions in promoting Teays Valley High School Athletics (1987), Ashville Community Club Distinguished Service Award (1998) and Ashville Kiwanis President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Ashville Community (2001), and he was recognized for his commitment to the Teays Valley Stadium Project (2001).
Bob was a loving husband, father and a very hard worker. He was loved by the community and all that knew him. He will be greatly missed.
Bob is preceded in death by sisters, Charlotte Cozad, Marvene Rinehart, Gladys Valentine, Zora Weiler, Augusta Mussellman, Velma Purcell, Ethel Thompson and Roma Conrad; and brother, Ralph E. Peters Jr.
Bob is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty (Kocher) Peters; son, Brent Peters; extended family, Savannah (John) Gould and son, Benjamin and Sophia Marshall; sister, Dorothy Ann Richards; numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; many lifetime close friends; and his cat, “Puss.”
Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2016, at the Oliver-Cheek Funeral Home, 420 W. Main St., Ashville. Funeral will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2016, at the Zion United Methodist Church, 24 Plum St., Ashville, with Rev. Ty Myers officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Cemetery in Circleville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Zion UMC; Heartland Hospice, 116 Morris Rd., Circleville, Ohio 43113; or Harrison Twp. Fire Fighters, 3625 St. Rt. 752, Ashville, Ohio 43103.
Online guestbook can be found at www.olivercheekfuneralhome.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
