William Wayne Peterson, 81, went to be with the Lord after a short illness on August 11, 2020 in Santa Maria, CA.  Wayne passed away peacefully with his family at his side.

     Wayne, as he was known to all, was born December 14, 1938, in Placerville, CA to Charles and Harriet Peterson.  Wayne grew up in Northern California, graduating from South Tahoe High School in 1956.  Wayne was an avid sportsman playing baseball, basketball and tennis in high school and then men’s softball for many years in Santa Maria.  Wayne attended Sacramento State College graduating in 1961 with a degree in Education.  He was drafted into the U.S. Army serving at Fort Sill, OK from 1961 to 1963.  Wayne earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Sacramento State College in 1970.

     While attending college in Sacramento he met his future wife and love of his life Claudia May Redding in their first teacher education class.  Claudia and Wayne married in March, 1961 and they enjoyed 57 happy years together until she passed in November 2018.  They moved to Santa Maria in 1964 to pursue their teaching careers.  There they both began their careers as educators in the Santa Maria Public School District and began raising a family.

     Wayne was very involved in his community throughout his life.  He would teach 4^th grade at Rice Elementary School for 33 years starting in 1964.  He was a member then President of the Santa Maria Public Library Board for 30 years.  During his tenure he oversaw many program improvements including the funding and construction of a new Santa Maria Public Library building.  He was also an old car enthusiast and always had a classic car undergoing restoration.  Participation in local car shows and car club activities with his 1967 Mustang was the highlight of his lifelong passion for cars.  Wayne was also a Master Mason and was involved with his sons in the Masonic youth program DeMolay for many years.  He had a life long affinity for history and the military.  He joined the State Military Reserve in 1987 and participated in their military history and civil defense programs.  Wayne also volunteered with local Museums of Flight and Railroad after retirement.  He and Claudia were life long members of the Presbyterian Church in Santa Maria where he served as a deacon and usher.

     Throughout his life Wayne enjoyed travel.  He explored the U.S. with the family in their station wagon, and later he and Claudia took many trips to Europe and one to China.  Though he traveled to many places, the Peterson family homestead in Middletown, CA was where he felt most at home always returning when time allowed.

     Wayne’s memorial service will be held at a later date when family and friends can safely gather to celebrate his life.

     Wayne is survived by his sons Lon and Aaron, and older brother Norman.  He was preceded in death by his wife Claudia.

     His ashes will be interned with his wife Claudia and other Peterson family in the Middletown, California Cemetery.

     In lieu of flowers if you would like to, please make a donation in Wayne’s memory to the Shriners Hospitals for Children by calling 1-855-401-4897 or via web page at https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc