Paul Joseph Peters

Plant City, FL - Paul Joseph Peters, passed away peacefully with family by his side, May 27, 2016. He was born in Portland, Maine 16 November 1933, to Charles Peters and Clara Tanguay. Paul was a loving husband, a dedicated father and a caring brother to his family. He was preceded in death by his mother and father. Paul will always be remembered by his family as a good, kind person who always believed in the goodness in others and helped his family grow and flourish. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Katherine (Greco) Peters; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Timothy Maurer of Magnolia, Delaware; son and daughter-in-law Charles and Michelle Peters of Valrico, Florida; two sisters, Annette Rinaldi of Portland, Maine and Virginia Grant of Old Orchard Beach, Maine. He also left behind 4 grandchildren, Jonathan and Katherine Maurer, and Leah and Nicole Peters. Paul lived a fascinating life and lived it fully. A devout Catholic, he graduated from Cheverus High School in 1951. He studied at St. Francis Xavier University and graduated from Boston College in 1955. After college, he joined the U.S.Army and spent three years as a Russian linguist, stationed in Germany. After the Army he continued his studies at Georgetown University where he graduated with a M.S. in Language and Linguistics. It was there he met his future wife, Katherine. After Georgetown, he moved to Germany, where he and Katherine established their family and careers. Paul was a distinguished and beloved language teacher who was fluent in Russian and German. He worked at different military bases for the University of Maryland, teaching Russian to military and civilians stationed overseas. Paul also worked for a number of private companies as well as business schools in Trier Germany, teaching various English courses. When Paul was not working, he could be found pursuing his passion for exercise and health. Ahead of his time with many of his ideas and lifestyle choices, Paul was a distance runner and cyclist, long before it became popular. He ran and rode his bicycle through the surrounding towns in Germany and would come back to the U.S. every summer and run and ride his bike through Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough (Prouts Neck), and Wells Beach. Pauls love of music also included playing the piano and he would entertain family and friends for a couple of hours in the evenings. Musicals and music from the 1940s and 1950swere his favorite genre. After 48 years in Germany Paul returned to America and settled in Dover, Florida to be close to his son and his family. Paul will always be remembered as a caring and committed husband, father, grandfather and son who passed on his values to his family. Visiting hours will be held on June 24, 2016 from 4-7 pm in the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited on June 25 at 10:15 am at the funeral home followed by an 11 am Mass of Christian burial at St. Maximilian Kolbe, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. To view Pauls memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to LifePath Hospice 12470 Telecom Drive Suite 300, Temple Terrace, FL 33637