Dr. Robert Henry Peterson was born in Douglas, GA on Halloween, 1940. The grandson of Henry and Mary Ellen Vickers and son of Chester Peterson and Minnie Lee Sparks, he spent a wonderful childhood in Coffee County with his sister Mary Gail Gaddy and numerous cousins including Dr. Rodney Vickers, Jean Bowlin and Lonnie Pope.
He attended both Coffee High School and South Georgia College and worked in the fields with his grandparents and in the tobacco warehouse in the summers. He will greatly miss this summer’s class reunion with a close-knit group of peers who have stayed in touch all these years.
Bob left Georgia to attend the University of Houston College of Optometry. It was there that he met and married Pam Green. After graduation he began his tour of duty as a Captain in the United States Army.
Returning to Houston, Bob joined the Optometric practice of Drs. Kemp and Peterson in which he was privileged to work both Dr. William Kemp and his son Dr. Robert Kemp. Bob became very active in his community and state, serving in every capacity of both the Harris County Optometric Society and the Texas Optometric Association.
His patients have been his loyal extended family, as he has welcomed back generations during his 50 years in practice. He also served as President of numerous organizations, including the Northshore Rotary Club, the Foundation for Education and Research in Vision, The Galena Park Independent School District Board and the Harris County Department of Education Board. He has served on the Board of Trustees for Woodforest National Bank since its inception and has treasured every minute working with wonderful, dedicated and ethical people.
Bob and Pam have two exceptional children: Melissa Peterson Newsom, married to Donald Newsom, lives in CA, and son Robert Kevin Peterson, and architect with BGK lives here in Houston. Not only are they the pride of his life, they have been helpmates and true support throughout their lives. And, of course, he has received immeasurable joy from his awesome grandchildren John, Sean, Kayleigh, and TJ Newsom. His pride in each of them has been well known to anyone who would listen and see his wallet full of pictures. His sister Mary Gail Gaddy and her children, Cheree and Hugh, their spouses and children are also great sources of pride for Bob.
Bob’s faith has sustained him through the trails and tribulations of life. He has been a head usher at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church for many years. He also had the rewarding opportunity of providing exams and glasses to many who were unable to afford them through the Episcopal outreach of Lord of the Streets. Bob’s love of family, friends, patients, those he knew and didn’t know made him a well-loved individual who will be greatly missed by those he left behind at his passing.
Services will be a St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston 77056, on Monday, May 11th at 2:00 pm. The church is located on the corner of Sage and Woodway.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to one of the following on his behalf.
Robert H. Peterson Scholarship Endowment, FERV; make check payable to FERV to the following address: FERV, 505 J Davis Armistead Bldg, Houston, TX 77204; Woodforestcharitable- foundation.org Attn: Estelle -St. Martin’s Episcopal Church 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056 Attn: Cyndy.