William A. Peters

Portsmouth, RI - William A. Peters, 76, of Portsmouth, died peacefully at Newport Hospital in the presence of his loving family on Sunday, May 18th. He was the husband of Betty Ann Williamson Peters. Born in Queens, NY on September 23, 1931, he was the son of the late Joseph and Bertha Schelsinger Peters.Bill grew up attending schools in NYC. Later, Bill attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD where he graduated in 1956. In the Navy, Bill served on the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, The USS Enterprise, when it was first commissioned in 1961. He was an instructor at the Naval War College from 1972-1974 and served on the USS Coral Sea as a Supply Officer. Traveling to many interesting locations he often shared his stories of his adventures. Throughout his naval career he earned many medals and citations. He retired from Naval service in 1983 as a Captain. At that point he put his traveling days behind him and has lived in Portsmouth, RI for the past 25 years.Bill is survived by his wife Betty Ann Williamson of Newport, his 5 children; Laura Peters of Newport, Kevin Peters of Narragansett, Leslie and her husband Michael Mowery of Bristol, Kathleen Browne of Cape Neddick, Maine and Michael and his wife Jenni Peters of Sutton, Massachusetts; 3 brothers Robert and his wife Peggy, Joseph and his wife Tony and Richard Peters; 10 grandchildren, Zachary, James and Ian Browne, Krystal Sherman, Seth Peters, Rachel, Kelly and Charlotte Mowery and Emma and Grace Peters; many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephewsMr. Peters was an avid tinkerer and woodworker. He delighted in bring something broken and discarded back to life. He loved gardening and every spring he looked forward to his bulbs of crocus, daffodil and tulips filling his yard with spring color. During the summer, often into October, you may have spotted him swimming at second beach in the late afternoon getting his daily exercise. Most of all, Bill was a quiet and wise patriarch of the family who cherished his children and grandchildren. He was known for his generosity, as he would go above and beyond to help his family.Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Bills Family on Wednesday, May 21st from 4:00-7:00 pm at Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. His funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, May 22 at Jesus Savior Church, 508 Broadway, Newport at 9:00 am. Burial will follow at St. Columba Catholic Cemetery, Browns Lane, Middletown. The Peters Family wish to thank the ICU staff of Newport Hospital for making his last days comfortable.What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. ~ Helen Keller