Larry William “Bill” Peters was born Nov. 9, 1946, to Laurence and Dolores Detwiller Peterman in Alma, Michigan. He peacefully passed away with his family by his side on Friday, February 2, 2018, reaching the age of 71.
His dad went missing in action in WWII after which his mother married Vern Peters on July 20, 1949. His early childhood years were spent in Alma, Michgan, until his parents moved to Walnut Hill, Florida, in 1958. Larry’s love for singing started with his mom at the kitchen sink.
Larry was baptized at the age of 12 in Walnut Hill, Florida, on Easter Sunday, March 29, 1959, by his Uncle Wilbert Peters. He had many struggles in his life, but his eyes were always set on Heaven his goal. In the last several years, his Christian life became very precious to him with his concern being that his children and grandchildren would meet him in Heaven.
At the age of 16, Larry ventured to work for Ivan Koehn land leveling in the Mississippi Delta. While in Mississippi, he met his future brother-in-law, Dale Holdeman, which changed his life forever.
Larry married Wanda Holdeman on February 12, 1965, in Wrens, Georgia. Jeffrey, Craig, Jennifer, and Cynthia were born over the next nine years. Larry and Wanda enjoyed 53 years together.
Larry was a big man with a big heart—he always had a heart for the underdog. In their early married years, he would pick up hitchhikers, take them home, give them a hot meal and then bought them a bus ticket to send them on their way. Wanda often told him if he didn’t stop they wouldn’t have any money left.
A jack of all trades, he would often whistle “I’ve Found a Friend” as he worked. He could fix or build anything. He worked in his dad’s welding and fabrication shop before he ventured out and became a dairyman. In June of 1990, they opened the Li’l Dutch House and Bakery in Wrens, Georgia. They enjoyed serving the community with down home cooking and made many friends and good memories. People looked forward to coming into the restaurant on Friday nights to hear Larry sing. Customers always commented that they enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. In 2003, they sold the restaurant and bakery in Wrens and focused on their new bakery in Augusta. During that time, Jenny and Melisa Lotiff, came from Belize and moved in with the family. They were accepted into the family as daughters.
Being an outdoorsman, Larry loved to fish and take his family camping in the Smoky mountains. One of the highlights was eating outdoors, sitting around the campfire and singing with his family. Many times, campers would come and sit around the fire and listen.
His children and grandchildren were very precious to him and he taught them how to enjoy the simple things in life, leaving his legacy of singing and his great sense of humor. The language of Larry’s heart was song. When God would touch his heart, a new song would spring forth. Larry would pull his family together, sing the new song, and have them bring harmony to it. Then he would sing it to his mom, Dolores, and she would help arrange the music. The first song he composed was “Be Still”. He would often sing his new songs in church, with Jenny as a duet. The family’s best memories include him inviting big groups or his quartet over to sing in their home.
In Larry’s last years, he had many medical and physical difficulties. Because of these physical difficulties, he was unable to attend church so he listened to many services at home. One evening after listening to Minister Kendal Koehn’s message, he got out of bed and stood when they gave the invitation, wanting to re-consecrate his life. His body was so worn down that he finally requested that all medical aid be discontinued. His doctor always has his personal quiet time at 3:45 in the morning. That morning as he prayed and thought about Larry, God gave him a peace with letting Larry go to his heavenly home.
It was very comforting in the last weeks having his children and grandchildren around him singing. The family knew that Larry’s clear mind in his last days was a gift from God. He left them with calm hearts knowing that he went home to his Savior.
Though they know that Larry would not want them to grieve long, he leaves, with sad hearts, his wife, Wanda; two sons, Jeffrey and wife Pat of Wrens and Craig and wife Lucy of Fleetwood, PA; two daughters, Jennifer Prickett of Mountain Grove, MO, Cynthia and husband Mark Koehn of Louisville; two “adopted” daughters, Jenny and husband Sheldon Koehn of Billy White, Belize, Melisa and husband Chester Boehs of Lakin, KS; 16 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; one sister, Deborah and husband Jon Litwiller of Middleton, MI; two brothers, Randy and wife Cyndi Peters of Nyssa, OR and Erich Peters of Walnut Hill, FL; one sister Lorinda Lumbert joined his family in 1996; brothers-in-law, Duane and wife Frances of Moundrige KS, Howard and wife Pauline of Clarksdale, MS, Dale and wife Twila, Milferd and wife Anita, Lloyd and wife Luanne all of Wrens; sisters-in-law, Letha, Mrs Glenn Peters, Karen, Mrs. Robert Holdeman, Janet, Mrs. Maynard Holdeman; and many other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Laurence Peterman, and Vern and Dolores Peters; parents-in-law Noah and Dessie Holdeman; four sisters-in-law, and three brothers-in-law.
James Funeral Home, 630 North Main, Wrens GA, in charge of arrangements.
