George P. Peterson, 88, passed away on May 7, 2018, surrounded by his adoring family. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Judie, his son, Teds Peterson, daughters Lia (Brent) Walls and Antonia Peterson.  He also leaves grandchildren, Ella and George Walls, and brother, Ted Peterson.

George was born March 30, 1930, in New York City, to Peter and Evangeline Peterson.  He excelled as a student, and graduated from Columbia University in 1951 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  After graduation, he joined the Air Force Materials Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.  He served on active duty as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force, from 1952 to 1953, and went on to hold numerous leadership positions as a civilian at Wright-Patterson, including Director of the Materials Lab, until his retirement in 1985.

In 1974, he was cited as one of the top twenty U.S. contributors toward advancement in aerospace materials technology, by Aviation Week magazine.

In 1982, he was presented with the Meritorious Executive award from President Ronald Reagan.

In 1983, he became the third person to ever be awarded a Lifetime Honorary Membership in the Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering (SAMPE).

In 1985, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and Who’s Who in America.  He was also presented the Exceptional Civilian Service Decoration for his leadership as the Director of the Materials Laboratory.

In recognition of his pioneering contributions to the advanced composites arena, George was elected to the Engineering Hall of Fame in 2019:

Hall of Fame - George Peterson

He married the love of his life, Judie, in 1965, and raised his family in Miamisburg, Ohio.  George was an avid automobile enthusiast, a world traveler, and a wine lover. He spent his free time playing golf and tennis, and collecting sports memorabilia and antiques. His retirement in 1985 allowed him to dedicate more time to his family, which was his utmost priority.  He was his children’s greatest fan, and spent countless evenings cheering them on at the baseball field or tennis court.  In his later years, his grandchildren were the light of his life, and spending time with them was one of his greatest joys.