The Reverend Floyd Peter Peterson, 99, of Advance, passed away at the Forest at Duke, Durham, early September 15, 2025.

Born in Devil's Creek, Michigan, Peter was the son of Ellsworth and Emma Peterson and grew up on a dairy farm. In 1943, after graduating from high school, he moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin to work for Nash Motor Company, building engines for World War II airplanes. At age 18 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and deployed to Germany, assigned to the 42nd Rainbow Division. He was awarded a bronze star for extraordinary heroism. At the conclusion of the war he served in the Army of Occupation in Austria, attaining the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major.

Peter returned to the states in 1946, and was admitted to Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He earned a B.A. in English in three years, and a Master of Divinity degree from Moravian Theological Seminary in 1952. He later earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary.

Peter knew while still a high school student that God was calling him to ministry. He answered that call and dedicated 75 years of his life to God's service, touching the lives of countless persons. Peter was a church planter, the founding pastor of Palmer Moravian Church, Easton, Pennsylvania; St. Paul's Moravian Church, Upper Marlboro, Maryland; and Redeemer Moravian Church, Winter Springs, Florida. In his long career he also served as pastor of Downey Moravian Church, Downey, California; First Presbyterian Church, Wildwood, Florida; Community Presbyterian Church, Clewiston, Florida; and Bixby Presbyterian Church, Advance, North Carolina. He also served as chaplain of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He preached every Sunday until age 96, when an accident ended his career as pastor.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents; six siblings; wife, Marjorie Antes Peterson; wife, Brenda Freeland Peterson; daughter, Cherylann Barrett, and granddaughter, Brynn Dietz. He is survived by his sons, The Rev. Robert E. Peterson and his wife, Sara, and The Rev. Jon C. Peterson and his wife, Bonnie; a daughter, Kristen Dietz and her husband, Christopher; a daughter, Kimberly Jenkins; a son, Kelly Wright; a son-in-law, Bruce Barrett; 20 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends will gather at Macedonia Moravian Church in Advance, on Saturday, September 20. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m.; the memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Bixby Presbyterian Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Bixby Presbyterian Cemetery Maintenance Fund, 1806 Fork Bixby Rd Advance, NC 27006

Online condolences: www.lambertfuneralhomenc.com