Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Spouses
BurialShallow Ford Christian Church, 1263 Shallow Ford Church Road, Alamance County, North Carolina [35144]
Children(Confidential, Male)
Obituary Online notes for Richard Marion PETERSON
10/9/2015
Rev. Richard Marion Petersen
The Rev. Richard Marion Petersen, 97, of 1840 Altamahaw-Union Ridge Road passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, with his family by his side.
Richard was born Oct. 9, 1917, in Thorsby, Alabama, to Danish immigrants Martin Christian and Elsie Villadsen Petersen and was the youngest of 10 children, seven boys and three girls.
Richard was drawn to serve early in life and in 1935, spent his summer in Kentucky doing missions work and he continued this there after graduation from Thorsby Institute. In 1939, Richard enrolled in Piedmont College located in southeast Georgia. This was also the year that a young Loyce Bagwell from Gainesville, Georgia enrolled in Piedmont seeking a teaching degree. Little did Loyce know that four years later, in 1943, after Richard had aggravated her and finally worn her down, she would agree to become his wife.
War was declared in 1941 and the American people heard the call to arms. Richard’s parents had emigrated from Denmark around 1900 and were proud of their Danish heritage but recognized that they were now Americans, and they gave their all in support of their new country. Five of the six Petersen brothers immediately enlisted in the war effort across various branches of the service. When Richard returned home from Piedmont College his mother asked him to honor the Petersen family by joining the military and he told her that he had already enlisted with the United States Marine Corps. Richard was a proud Marine who saw combat duty in the Pacific and, when wounded, returned home to the United States where he spent several years training troops to join the fight.
With the end of the war, and upon leaving active duty with the Marine Corps, Richard returned to Loyce’s home of Gainesville, Georgia. While there, he received an invitation to come and preach in Kentucky because of his previous mission outreach. After preaching in Kentucky for about a year and finding that this was indeed his life’s work, he enrolled in Vanderbilt University’s School of Religion where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He concurrently enrolled in Peabody and Scarritt Colleges and earned teaching degrees from both. Richard held five degrees, including the Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University, which he earned in 1973.
Richard was called as minister of Shallow Ford United Church of Christ in Elon College, NC in 1952, where he served for 34 years. His philosophy was that Jesus was a preacher, a teacher, and a carpenter, so a good minister should be all three. He lived out this personal code — while at Shallow Ford, he served his congregation well and he oversaw the construction of an educational wing in 1958 and the main sanctuary in 1967. He did much of the work himself,
having held a passion for building and finish carpentry throughout his life. In addition, he enjoyed many days substitute teaching at both Western Middle and Western High Schools.
This was an important time in Richard’s life, and he firmly planted roots through his church leadership, community involvement and the joy of seeing his family grow from children into adults. Both Richard and Loyce retired in 1985 and moved to Birmingham, Alabama to take care of Clara, Richard’s older sister. After Clara’s death in 1996 and Richard’s first stroke in 1997, they returned home to North Carolina where he lived out his days happily, continuing to shine his light with those whose lives he shared.
Richard is survived by four children, Brenda (Frio) Garner, Jeanneine (Mike) Jones, Marelle McAdams and Eugene (Tammy) Petersen. He leaves six grandchildren, Kimberly (Tim) Petty, Christian McAdams, Matt (Lisa) Petersen, Grant Petersen, Joshua Jones, Rachel Jones; and four greatgrandchildren, Victoria, Claire and Jack Petty, and Lyla Petersen. In addition, Richard leaves several nieces and nephews.
He was pre-deceased by his wife of 70 years, Loyce Bagwell Petersen; their sonin law, Doug McAdams; his mother and father; and all his siblings, Olga, Hilma, Clara, Walter, Eugene, Russell, Leo, Willis and LeRoy.
Richard remained a member of Shallow Ford Christian Church until his death, though he regularly attended St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, a congregation he also loved. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be shared with either church so they might purchase audio visual equipment for their ministries.
Richard’s family will be honored to receive friends at Shallow Ford Christian Church Friday night beginning at 6. He will lie in state on Saturday in the sanctuary beginning at 1 p.m. with funeral services to be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m.by the Rev. Steve Regan and the Rev. Tommy Privette. Entombment will be in the church cemetery with military honors.
Rich & Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Burlington is assisting the family.
Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com [35143]
Rev. Richard Marion Petersen
The Rev. Richard Marion Petersen, 97, of 1840 Altamahaw-Union Ridge Road passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, with his family by his side.
Richard was born Oct. 9, 1917, in Thorsby, Alabama, to Danish immigrants Martin Christian and Elsie Villadsen Petersen and was the youngest of 10 children, seven boys and three girls.
Richard was drawn to serve early in life and in 1935, spent his summer in Kentucky doing missions work and he continued this there after graduation from Thorsby Institute. In 1939, Richard enrolled in Piedmont College located in southeast Georgia. This was also the year that a young Loyce Bagwell from Gainesville, Georgia enrolled in Piedmont seeking a teaching degree. Little did Loyce know that four years later, in 1943, after Richard had aggravated her and finally worn her down, she would agree to become his wife.
War was declared in 1941 and the American people heard the call to arms. Richard’s parents had emigrated from Denmark around 1900 and were proud of their Danish heritage but recognized that they were now Americans, and they gave their all in support of their new country. Five of the six Petersen brothers immediately enlisted in the war effort across various branches of the service. When Richard returned home from Piedmont College his mother asked him to honor the Petersen family by joining the military and he told her that he had already enlisted with the United States Marine Corps. Richard was a proud Marine who saw combat duty in the Pacific and, when wounded, returned home to the United States where he spent several years training troops to join the fight.
With the end of the war, and upon leaving active duty with the Marine Corps, Richard returned to Loyce’s home of Gainesville, Georgia. While there, he received an invitation to come and preach in Kentucky because of his previous mission outreach. After preaching in Kentucky for about a year and finding that this was indeed his life’s work, he enrolled in Vanderbilt University’s School of Religion where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He concurrently enrolled in Peabody and Scarritt Colleges and earned teaching degrees from both. Richard held five degrees, including the Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University, which he earned in 1973.
Richard was called as minister of Shallow Ford United Church of Christ in Elon College, NC in 1952, where he served for 34 years. His philosophy was that Jesus was a preacher, a teacher, and a carpenter, so a good minister should be all three. He lived out this personal code — while at Shallow Ford, he served his congregation well and he oversaw the construction of an educational wing in 1958 and the main sanctuary in 1967. He did much of the work himself,
having held a passion for building and finish carpentry throughout his life. In addition, he enjoyed many days substitute teaching at both Western Middle and Western High Schools.
This was an important time in Richard’s life, and he firmly planted roots through his church leadership, community involvement and the joy of seeing his family grow from children into adults. Both Richard and Loyce retired in 1985 and moved to Birmingham, Alabama to take care of Clara, Richard’s older sister. After Clara’s death in 1996 and Richard’s first stroke in 1997, they returned home to North Carolina where he lived out his days happily, continuing to shine his light with those whose lives he shared.
Richard is survived by four children, Brenda (Frio) Garner, Jeanneine (Mike) Jones, Marelle McAdams and Eugene (Tammy) Petersen. He leaves six grandchildren, Kimberly (Tim) Petty, Christian McAdams, Matt (Lisa) Petersen, Grant Petersen, Joshua Jones, Rachel Jones; and four greatgrandchildren, Victoria, Claire and Jack Petty, and Lyla Petersen. In addition, Richard leaves several nieces and nephews.
He was pre-deceased by his wife of 70 years, Loyce Bagwell Petersen; their sonin law, Doug McAdams; his mother and father; and all his siblings, Olga, Hilma, Clara, Walter, Eugene, Russell, Leo, Willis and LeRoy.
Richard remained a member of Shallow Ford Christian Church until his death, though he regularly attended St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, a congregation he also loved. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be shared with either church so they might purchase audio visual equipment for their ministries.
Richard’s family will be honored to receive friends at Shallow Ford Christian Church Friday night beginning at 6. He will lie in state on Saturday in the sanctuary beginning at 1 p.m. with funeral services to be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m.by the Rev. Steve Regan and the Rev. Tommy Privette. Entombment will be in the church cemetery with military honors.
Rich & Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Burlington is assisting the family.
Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com [35143]
Obituary Online notes for Loyce Alberta (Spouse 1)
8/2/2014
Loyce Alberta Bagwell Petersen
BURLINGTON — Loyce Alberta Bagwell Petersen, 93, died peacefully Thursday morning with her family by her side. We thank God for Loyce and her example of love and commitment which shown bright her entire life. Her family is honored to call her Wife, Mama, Maw-Maw and Great-grandma.
Loyce was raised in Gainesville, Ga., the oldest child of Albert and Myrtle Brown Bagwell, where she was taught the value of family and life on the family farm. As she grew and other children arrived, she became mama’s helper and tended her siblings as her mama would. The love and bond between Loyce and her family was strong and remains the same today.
Loyce loved the family of her youth and the North Georgia community of Mountain View where she grew up. Many hours were spent listening to her talk of these times and the lessons she learned from family, hard work, neighborly deeds and church involvement. Loyce had a great faith, strong moral convictions and a love of service that she was proud to keep in the forefront of her life. Her hope was that all she met might see God and love through her due to the blessings she had been given by her God and her strong family upbringing.
Loyce desired to become a teacher, a career that her mama had given up so she could help on the farm. So in 1939 Loyce chose to attend Piedmont College in North Georgia. Little did she know that here is where she would meet Richard Petersen who was also attending to become a teacher. Loyce did not like Richard very much; in fact, she would cross the street to get away from him! Richard was persistent and, because of that, here we are today. While Richard went to war, Loyce went home and began her teaching career and even taught her own brothers and sisters.
In 1951, Loyce and Richard moved to Elon College, N.C. to shepherd a small church in need of a working minister. They now had their oldest child, Brenda, and soon added Jeanneine, Marelle and Eugene to the family. They dedicated their life to Shallow Ford and the community, and their service is well remembered to this day.
After her last child began school, Loyce returned to teaching and retired from Western Alamance High School in 1985, the same year Richard retired from Shallow Ford. Their retirement took them to Alabama where Loyce, always the nurturer, cared for Richard’s sister until her death. Loyce and Richard returned to Alamance
County in 1999 to once again worship with their Shallow Ford Church family. For the last five years they have worshiped with St. Luke’s UMC, along with Eugene and Tammy.
Loyce is survived by her husband of 70 years, Richard M. Petersen; her four children, Brenda [Frio] Garner, Jeanneine [Mike] Jones, Marelle McAdams and Eugene [Tammy] Petersen. Loyce was blessed with six grandchildren, Kimberly McAdams Petty and Christian McAdams, Matt [Lisa] Petersen and Grant Petersen, Josh Jones and Rachel Jones; four great-grandchildren, Victoria, Claire and Jack Petty and Lyla Petersen. She is also survived by two sisters, Nelwyn Turk and Montine [Jack] McDaniel; a brother, W.A. “Dub” [JoAnne] Bagwell; and many nieces and nephews. In addition, Loyce is survived by her special daughters, Sherry Snodgrass, Sandra Bayliff, and so many more that she loved and cared for over many years as both a minister’s wife and a high school English teacher.
Loyce was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Myrtle Bagwell; brothers, A.D. “Junior” [Madge] Bagwell, Perry [Ima] Bagwell; sister, Helen Bagwell [C.J.] Roper; and brother-in-law, Hanes Turk. She was also predeceased by her son-inlaw, Doug McAdams.
The family would like to invite you to a celebration of Loyce’s life beginning with visitation at Shallow Ford Christian Church Saturday night from 5 until, with her service to follow at 3 p.m. Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Shallow Ford Sound System Fund.
Words cannot express the gratitude our family has for the love, respect and memories you have provided to Loyce and Richard over the years. Loyce is where we hope to one day be, sitting safely and securely at the feet of Jesus, her Lord and Savior forever.
Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com [35142]
Loyce Alberta Bagwell Petersen
BURLINGTON — Loyce Alberta Bagwell Petersen, 93, died peacefully Thursday morning with her family by her side. We thank God for Loyce and her example of love and commitment which shown bright her entire life. Her family is honored to call her Wife, Mama, Maw-Maw and Great-grandma.
Loyce was raised in Gainesville, Ga., the oldest child of Albert and Myrtle Brown Bagwell, where she was taught the value of family and life on the family farm. As she grew and other children arrived, she became mama’s helper and tended her siblings as her mama would. The love and bond between Loyce and her family was strong and remains the same today.
Loyce loved the family of her youth and the North Georgia community of Mountain View where she grew up. Many hours were spent listening to her talk of these times and the lessons she learned from family, hard work, neighborly deeds and church involvement. Loyce had a great faith, strong moral convictions and a love of service that she was proud to keep in the forefront of her life. Her hope was that all she met might see God and love through her due to the blessings she had been given by her God and her strong family upbringing.
Loyce desired to become a teacher, a career that her mama had given up so she could help on the farm. So in 1939 Loyce chose to attend Piedmont College in North Georgia. Little did she know that here is where she would meet Richard Petersen who was also attending to become a teacher. Loyce did not like Richard very much; in fact, she would cross the street to get away from him! Richard was persistent and, because of that, here we are today. While Richard went to war, Loyce went home and began her teaching career and even taught her own brothers and sisters.
In 1951, Loyce and Richard moved to Elon College, N.C. to shepherd a small church in need of a working minister. They now had their oldest child, Brenda, and soon added Jeanneine, Marelle and Eugene to the family. They dedicated their life to Shallow Ford and the community, and their service is well remembered to this day.
After her last child began school, Loyce returned to teaching and retired from Western Alamance High School in 1985, the same year Richard retired from Shallow Ford. Their retirement took them to Alabama where Loyce, always the nurturer, cared for Richard’s sister until her death. Loyce and Richard returned to Alamance
County in 1999 to once again worship with their Shallow Ford Church family. For the last five years they have worshiped with St. Luke’s UMC, along with Eugene and Tammy.
Loyce is survived by her husband of 70 years, Richard M. Petersen; her four children, Brenda [Frio] Garner, Jeanneine [Mike] Jones, Marelle McAdams and Eugene [Tammy] Petersen. Loyce was blessed with six grandchildren, Kimberly McAdams Petty and Christian McAdams, Matt [Lisa] Petersen and Grant Petersen, Josh Jones and Rachel Jones; four great-grandchildren, Victoria, Claire and Jack Petty and Lyla Petersen. She is also survived by two sisters, Nelwyn Turk and Montine [Jack] McDaniel; a brother, W.A. “Dub” [JoAnne] Bagwell; and many nieces and nephews. In addition, Loyce is survived by her special daughters, Sherry Snodgrass, Sandra Bayliff, and so many more that she loved and cared for over many years as both a minister’s wife and a high school English teacher.
Loyce was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Myrtle Bagwell; brothers, A.D. “Junior” [Madge] Bagwell, Perry [Ima] Bagwell; sister, Helen Bagwell [C.J.] Roper; and brother-in-law, Hanes Turk. She was also predeceased by her son-inlaw, Doug McAdams.
The family would like to invite you to a celebration of Loyce’s life beginning with visitation at Shallow Ford Christian Church Saturday night from 5 until, with her service to follow at 3 p.m. Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Shallow Ford Sound System Fund.
Words cannot express the gratitude our family has for the love, respect and memories you have provided to Loyce and Richard over the years. Loyce is where we hope to one day be, sitting safely and securely at the feet of Jesus, her Lord and Savior forever.
Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com [35142]