Dr. Bob Peterson

Survivors include Anne Latta Peterson, his loving wife of 57 years; and three children, Dave Peterson of Jackson, Miss., and Marianne Nitzken (Marty) and Margaret Lee (Miles), all of Louisville, Ky.
Dr. Peterson had eight grandchildren, Betsy Peterson of Avon, Colo., Bobby Peterson (Mimi) of Birmingham, Ala., Anne Wilson Peterson of Jackson, Miss., Mollie Nitzken of Atlanta, Anna Nitzken of Atlanta, Miles Lee of Louisville, Gilson Lee of Louisville and Martin Nitzken of Louisville.
Dr. Peterson was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Taylor Peterson and Margaret Rickman Peterson; and his sister, Margaret “Peggy” Thorpe.
Born Aug. 20, 1929, he was a native of Rutherford and a graduate of Dyersburg High School. He attended Duke University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, vice president of the senior class and business manager of the university yearbook.
After graduating from Duke in 1951, he joined the U.S. Navy and graduated from Officers’ Candidate School as an ensign. He served as ship’s navigator on the USS Ashland, LSD-1.
Following a year of study at the University of Tennessee at Martin, he attended University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis, graduating with honors in 1959. He was a member of the honorary fraternity Alpha Omega Alpha, class treasurer and vice president of the student body.
He interned at the former John Gaston Hospital in Memphis and then practiced medicine in Fulton at the former Hillview Clinic and the former Fulton Hospital. His many years in general practice were rewarding. Dr. Peterson made house calls, delivered hundreds of babies and treated several generations in each family. He served as chairman of the Hospital Physicians’ Board and was a member of the Fulton County Health Board. He acted as Boy Scout physician for a number of years. He retired from the practice of medicine in 1995 after 35 years of selfless service.
Dr. Peterson was an active member of Fulton First United Methodist Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher and chairman of the Administrative Board. He served as chairman of the Fulton City School Board, of which he was a member for eight years.
He was past president of the Fulton Country Club and served on the Fulton Bank board of directors for 35 years. He was also a member of the Reelfoot Bank board of directors in Union City and was past president of the Citizens Bank in Water Valley, Ky.
Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday at First United Methodist Church, with burial to follow in the Water Valley Cemetery. Visitation will also be at the church from 10 a.m. Saturday until the hour of service.
Hornbeak Funeral Home in Fulton is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1386, Fulton, KY 42041; or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Online tributes may be left at www.hornbeakfuneralchapel.com.