Robert W Peters

Robert William Peters of Newport died on November 27, 2021 after a long battle with a variety of health challenges. Under the compassionate care of the local Hospice, along with heart felt efforts of the South Beach Manor staff, Robert received good care in his final days of life. Robert was born in White Hall, Illinois on July 26, 1942 to Dorothy Peters and William Henry Peters. He was the youngest of six children with four sisters and a brother. When his family bought a farm outside of town, the isolation and hard work forged a self reliance in Robert that served him well later in life. Two horrific accidents changed Robert's life, a car accident in 1959 and falling off a roof in 1990. The injuries were serious. He lost the use of an eye, (he wore an eye patch in public), and multiple breaks in one leg, (he walked with a cane with one leg shorter than the other). He also required reconstructive brain surgery that thankfully went very well. After the car accident Robert gradually recovered, graduated high school and settled down in White Hall getting a job at the local grocery store, Search's IGA. Eventually, he worked himself up to being the manager, where he worked until 1990. Robert was well liked by both his co-workers and the community as a whole. In 1966, Robert married Marlene McGee and they had two children, Lesley and Stephen. He worked long hours at the store providing for his family. In 1990 with his traditional work life over, Robert agreed to help his sister Linda and her husband Matt with the running of a deli called Marbles Deli. Drawing upon his small business experience, and his managerial expertise, Robert was very helpful in many ways. Enamored with Newport's temperate climate, the chances to have beautiful ocean walks, and see incredible coastal sunsets Robert moved to Newport in 2003 leaving behind the hot, humid Illinois summers. Living in the heart of Nye Beach, able to walk to the new businesses opening in the neighborhood Robert quickly became a loyal customer, a good friend, and an integral part of the community that was forming. The reason he was so well liked was despite all the hardships he had endured, he was still up-beat and positive with a good attitude. He had a skillful way of conversing, a great sense of humor, and was smart and clever. He was favorite of the young people who worked and lived in Nye Beach, and a loyal part of the coffee club that met at Panini. A beautiful banner of Robert was painted for the Community Banner Project. To sum it up, a good friend of Robert's, Veronica, the owner of Jovi, said this about Robert - "Robert has more spark in one eye than most people do with two." Music, and baseball were two of Robert's passions. Robert came from a musical family with both his father and brother playing in bands in his local White Hall area. His favorite musician was Bob Dylan. He also liked Johnny Cash and Elvis. Robert was a die hard Cubs fan. He loved to read and do cross-word puzzles. He liked to correct bad grammar, had an associate's degree in business, and was interested in history. His friends can still hear Robert saying to Joe, the owner of Panini, "Hey Joe, do you have any Schnecken? (a German cinnamon roll) Robert is survived by his wife, Marlene Peters; his daughter Lesley Dossett and her husband Brian; his son, Stephen Peters; grandsons Josh and Gage; and Great granddaughter, Emery Jo; three sisters, Barbara Estabrook, Phyllis Wyatt, Linda LeBaron; and brother-in-law Matthew Gallo, along with many nieces and nephews. A memorial is planned as a celebration of life in the Spring.

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Robert W Peters

July 26, 1942 - November 27, 2021