Wilbur R. Peters

Wilbur R. Peters of Old Route 209, Hurley died Monday, December 3, 2007 at Benedictine Hospital. He was 84. He was born in Camden, NJ on July 24, 1923, a son of the late Wilbur R. and Marion Newman Peters Sr. He attended Lehigh University and then entered the US Navy. He completed an accelerated ROTC program with MIT. Mr. Peters served in the Seabees during WW II. On January 6, 1945 he married Esther Schild. He moved to Poughkeepsie in 1947. He began his career at Central Hudson Gas & Electric Company in February of 1947 as a Junior Engineer after completing the requirements for a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology “MIT”. He progressed through many managerial positions in Central Hudson’s Engineering Department including Resident Manager, Manager of Distribution & Transmission Operations in the Upper Hudson Division including Kingston & Catskill. When Wilbur retired in 1986, he retired from the position of Administrative Assistant to the Chairman of the Board & President. While at Central Hudson Mr. Peters freely shared his knowledge of Central Hudson’s Transmission & Distribution Operating System with the younger engineers that he routinely came into contact with. During the last years of his career, Mr. Peters wrote a book “The History of Central Hudson” that is routinely referred to today. He was a 67-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. In 1958 he moved to Hurley. An active community member, Mr. Peter's previously served on the Town of Hurley Zoning Board and the Ulster County Planning Board. He served as President of the Kingston Hospital Board of Directors and was a Trustee of Rondout Savings Bank where he chaired many committees including the Examining Committee and the Public Relations Committee. At the time of his death Mr. Peters was a Trustee Emeriti of Rondout Savings Bank. In 1970 he was awarded "Man of the Year" by the Kingston Area Community Chest. A member of the Kingston Lodge #10, F. & A.M., he was a member of the Hurley Reformed Church and Consistory. Mr. Peters also served as Sunday School Superintendent at the Church. Surviving in addition to his wife of 62 years, Esther Peters, are three daughters Donna Lynn Colao of Hurley, Kate Fiore and her husband Anthony of Town of Ulster, and Ellen Marie Peters of Hurley; six grandchildren Stacey Colao Gardner, Mary Kay Fiore-Boyd, Charles Colao, Christine F. Butler, Peter Davis and Stephanie Dymond; five great grandchildren Garrett, Paige, Matthew, Aidan and Ava; one sister Janice Glatz of New Jersey; and four nieces. One sister Shirley Townley died previously. Reposing at Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. on Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. The Kingston Lodge #10, F. & A.M. will conduct a ritual on Friday at 3:00 PM. The funeral will be held on Saturday at 11:00 AM from the funeral home. A Funeral Service will be conducted at Hurley Reformed Church at 12:00, Rev. Charles Stickley will officiate. Interment, with miliary honors provided by Joyce - Schirick Post 1386, will be in Hurley Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice, 34 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401.