George "Bud" Vernon Peterson

George "Bud" Peterson

Formerly of Richfield

George Vernon "Bud" Peterson, Jr., 69, passed away September 11, 2015 in Fayetteville, Georgia from pancreatic cancer. Bud was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 25, 1945 to George Vernon and Virginia Erickson Peterson. He married his childhood sweetheart, Julia Ann Magleby, February 24, 1968 in the Manti Utah LDS Temple, they later divorced. He married Patricia Adelle Petersen on July 27, 1993 for time in the Jordan River Utah LDS Temple. They were later sealed in the Atlanta, Georgia Temple.

After graduating from high school in Richfield in 1964, he served an LDS mission in Denmark from 1965 to 1967. He earned his Masters of Science in Psychology from Brigham Young University in 1975 before beginning his career as a school psychologist in Downy, Idaho. In 1977 he moved back to Richfield to return to his childhood home and serve as a school psychologist for the Sevier School District. In 1994 he moved to Hampton, Georgia where he worked for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the Atlanta airport and enjoyed the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

Bud was inspired by his parents to lead a life of great service to his community, church and country. He served as a scoutmaster in every community he lived in and was most proud of the 8 years he served in the Richfield 8 ^th Ward where he started a long succession of boys becoming Eagle Scouts including his son, his future son-in-law and his nephew.

He was an active member in the LDS Church and served as an ordinance worker in the Atlanta Temple for 16 years. He held a number of church callings including Elders Quorum president, Primary teacher and most recently led the Spanish Youth Choir.

Bud served his country with a 24 year military career including 3 years active duty in the US Army and 21 years in the Utah Army National Guard. He served 8 of those years as Battalion chaplin of the 2/222nd Field Artillery　headquartered in Cedar City, Utah and visited the batteries in Richfield, Fillmore, Beaver and St. George.

He was the "family historian" with a lifelong passion for genealogical research. He researched, wrote and published many extensive family histories.

Bud is survived by his wife, Patricia; his children: Elisa (Les) Patterson, Hyde Park, UT; Marianne (Lorne) Knutson, Lino Lakes, MN; Suzanne (Lance) Olson, Orem, UT; George (Rachel) Peterson, Woods Cross, UT; Lars (Ann) Peterson, Georgetown, KY; Laura (Chris) Schear, Spanish Fork, UT; his step-children: Adelle Petersen, Hampton, GA; and Bethany (Alex) Hill, Molena, GA; and by 27 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; siblings: Elaine (Carvel) Wayland, Kathleen Christensen, Jim (Lanan) Peterson, Don (Marie) Peterson, Bill (Lora) Peterson, all of Richfield, UT.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marial Sorenson; brother, Robert Eric Peterson; brother-in-law, Jeff Christensen; grandson, Eugene Gray Peterson; step-daughter, Micaela Marie Petersen; and step-sons: Toran Marcus and Joseph Warren Petersen.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the Jonesboro, Georgia Ward Chapel with a military burial on Monday, September 21, 2015 at the National Military Cemetery at Canton, Georgia. Funeral services will be provided by Watkins Funeral Home in Jonesboro, Georgia.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. in the Richfield 15th Ward Chapel, 210 East Center.