Herbert Russell Peters

Herbert Russell Peters was born on Nov. 12, 1923, to Cary and Flossie Allman Peters in Alma, MI. He peacefully passed away on Jan. 29, 2020 at Hickory Woods Assisted Living in Murray, KY, reaching the age of 96 years.
Dad was the oldest in a family of nine children. His father was a victim of polio and became crippled. Thus, Dad had to take more responsibility to help care for the family. He received his eight years of formal education in the Ithaca area.
At a young age, Dad felt the Lord call him and he repented of his sins and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, on April 9, 1937, by Min. Hiram Mininger. His Christian life was always very meaningful to him. Family devotions and church attendance were very important to him. He remained true to his faith all the days of his life.
Dad met Mom, Vada Buerge, and they were married at Pettisville, Ohio, on June 27, 1948, by his grandfather, Min. August R. Peters. They shared joys and sorrows of life for over 71 years. One son, August, was born to them. In Oct. of 1954, they began their time as missionaries in Mexico, in the state of Chihuahua. They enjoyed their time, and often talked about their experiences there. They spent seven years there and returned to their home in Harrison, MI in Jan. 1962. While in Mexico, they welcomed into their home a starved 4-month old baby, John, whom they later adopted. He met a tragic death at the age of 22 years. They had many years caring for foster children in their home, making lifelong friends. Later in life, they adopted Leah who had been a foster child when she was young. He provided for his family by owning and running a crate manufacturing business, and also was into sales of different products. Gardening was always an enjoyable way to spend his day. He especially enjoyed growing strawberries in his older years and spent hours on hands and knees weeding and picking strawberries. In 1993, they moved to Murray, KY to be near their children. Dad enjoyed being part of the congregation and he will be missed.
Left to cherish fond memories are his wife, Vada; one son, August and Kathy Peters, Sedalia, KY; one daughter, Leah and Michael Doud, Essexville, MI; nine grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; two brothers, Orval Peters, Walnut Hill, FL., and Willard Peters, Barron, WI; three sisters, Edna Peters and Helen Peters, Ithaca, MI. and Donna and Kurt Fellows, Alma, MI; one sister-in-law, Ellyn Peters, Louisville, GA. His wife's family, brother-in-law Harold Buerge, Kernersville, NC, and sister-in-law Shirley Buerge, Sarasota, FL.
He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, one son, two brothers, one sister, two brothers-in-law, and four sisters-in-law.
The funeral service will be held on Monday, February 3, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Harmony Mennonite Church with Sam Leham, Jeff Goertzen, and Donavon Koehn officiating. Burial will follow in the Harmony Mennonite Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2020 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Harmony Mennonite Church.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Harmony Mennonite Church, 83 Honeybee Lane, Murray, Kentucky 42071 or to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
Online condolences can be made at www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com