Posted: Mon 11:10 AM, Nov 26, 2012
Funeral Home: Sparkman Funeral Home
September 10, 1933 – November 19, 2012
Dr. William Hilmer Peters, 79, of Dallas, Texas, husband of Marilyn Stanecki Peters, was born September 10, 1933 in Milwaukee, WI, and passed away November 19, 2012. He was the son of the late Steve and Elsie Peters.
Funeral arrangements are provided by Sparkman Richardson Funeral Home, 1029 South Greenville Ave, Richardson, TX 75081. Visitation and a funeral mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Dallas, at 11 a.m. Monday, November 26. Christian entombment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park Mausoleum following the funeral mass.
He obtained a bachelor's degree in English and History from Marquette University, a master's degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin, and a doctoral degree in English Education from the University of Virginia. His teaching career began at Greenfield High School in Milwaukee, WI in l958 after serving two years in the army as a Counter Intelligence Corps specialist. He taught English and served as English Department Chairman. Many of his former students remained his lifetime friends. After receiving his doctoral degree in 1968, he accepted a position at the University of Kentucky where he was an Assistant Professor, an Associate Professor, and Professor of English Education and later served as Curriculum and Instruction Department Chairman. In 1981, he accepted a position as Professor and Head of the Curriculum and Instruction Department at Texas A&M University. He authored extensive research and scholarly publications in English and secondary education. He retired as Emeritus Professor of Education at Texas A&M University in 2005.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Lawrence and Raymond Peters; a sister, Jean Fredrick; a brother-in-law, Earl Hooper; and a sister-in-law Rosemary Peters.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn, of 56 years; daughters, Jacquelyn Rieck and Victoria Vergason and son-in-law Michael Vergason; a son, Bradley Peters; sister, Dorothy Hooper; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Sue Stanecki; several nieces and nephews; and seven grandchildren, Andrea Rieck, Camille Rieck, Matthew Westin, William Peters Vergason, Christian Vergason, Olivia Vergason, and Sarah Peters, all of whom brought him joy.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made online to Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/tribute.cfm?).
