Alfred Al Peters, the son of John W. and Goldie M. Peters, was born in Walla Walla, Washington. He and his parents, along with his older brother, Harold, spent the next 18 years working the family farm 14 miles north of Pendleton. During this time, he had his primary school days at a small rural school at Kings Corner. Later, he attended school in Helix and stayed there until the end of the 8th grade. Before his freshman year, the decision was made for Al to transfer into Pendleton, which he did, and graduated from PHS with the class of 1942.

After high school, Al went on to Oregon State University to obtain a degree in business administration. For the next four years, he alternated between OSU and working the family farm. In 1946, Al joined the Army and was sent to post-war Germany. Here, because of his German background and familiarity of their language, he was stationed with counter-intelligence. He spent a year overseas and was discharged in 1947.

After returning from the military, Al focused all his time, with two exceptions, on his studies at Oregon State. One of these exceptions was his managerial position with the OSU basketball team. It was then coached by legendary Slats Gill, and Al was the teams manager. The second exception was meeting his future bride. He met Eldrid Eldie Irene Stousland, a beautiful young nurse from North Dakota. They were married in 1948 and followed that by Als graduation in 1949.

After their days in Corvallis, Al and Eldie moved back to Pendleton, he taking a job with Empire Machinery and she with St. Anthony Hospital. There, they added two members to their family, a daughter, Deborah (1949) and a son Dale (1952).

In the late 1950s, Al changed vocations and went to work for First National Bank. The new job lent to new locations. The family made home to the Eastern Oregon towns of Condon, Prineville, Ontario, and finally Union in 1966. In Union, Al and Eldie became ingrained in the community and spent many wonderful years there.

Civic involvement was always important to Al. He was adamant in his belief of paying back to a community. Some of his posts were: Happy Canyon worker, active member of Sigma Nu, congregational president of Pendletons Peace Lutheran Church, worship committee of La Grandes Zion Lutheran Church, Union County Economic Development, OTECC board of directors, 4-H leadership, Lions Club officer, treasurer and president of Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, and 2-term mayor of Union.

Al was preceded in death by his father, John (1967), his mother, Goldie (1981), his brother, Harold (1986), and his wife, Eldrid (1989). He is survived by daughter Deborah Vojtech (Garden Grove, Calif.), and son Dale (Pendleton), grandchildren Marcia Vojtech (Anaheim, Calif.), Curtis Peters (Portland), Cindy Vojtech (Arlington, Va.), Casey Peters (Denver, Colo.), Chris Peters (Portland, Ore.), and Cole Peters (Seattle), and great-grandchildren Avery and Brennan Peters (twins Portland, Ore.).

Memorial services will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in Pendleton at 2:00 p.m. on May 24, 2012. Memorial contributions can be made to: Union High School Scholarship Fund, Bobcat Foundation, P.O. Box 91, Union, OR 97883.

Online condolences may be sent to www.pioneerchapel.com.