Gordon "Pete" Peterson, 82

GORDON "PETE" L. PETERSON, 82, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, at La Hacienda Nursing Home, Harlingen, Texas after a short illness. He worked for IBM as an Electronics Engineer for over 30 years. In 1988, he retired and moved to the Fun & Sun RV Park, in San Benito. He was an accomplished musician and especially loved Bluegrass music. He had a passion for woodcarving and was a member of the woodcarving club at the RV Park.

Pete was responsible for introducing Linda and I to bluegrass music. In 1972 Pete convinced us to attend a "bluegrass" festival at Aunt Minnie's farm in West Virginia. Listening to his new tape of Will the Circle Be Unbroken by the Nitty Gritty Dirt band, Linda, I, our young son James and Pete drove east to the festival towing our 16' RV. We had a great time.

Thereafter, Pete encouraged us to attend a close by festival in Ohio called Ottawa. We made occasional visits but each time we became more enthused until finally we learned to play instruments and join Pete as he played banjo. We started attending festivals with Pete and would hit as many as 15 in the summer season.

One festival we attended was hosted by NIBGA in Columbia City, IN in the late '80s. There we met Don McFarland, president of NIBGA. We started attending winter meetings and eventually, Linda became club secretary and I vice president. In 1990 Don resigned and I became president. The festival needed a new home and Kendallville was found.

The Kendallville festival is a direct result of Pete's love of bluegrass music.

RIP good friend.