Ralph W. Peters, Sr…newspaper publisher, entrepreneur; 87
DRACUT, MA: Ralph W. Peters, Sr., age 87, founder and publisher of the former Merrimack Valley Advertiser Newspaper, died Friday, December 24, 2005 at his grandson’s home, surrounded by his family.
He was the husband of Dorothy A. (Shields) Peters, with whom he celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on April 23, 2005.
Born in Everett on March 17, 1918, he was the son of the late Robert H. and Mary J. (Miller) Peters.
Mr. Peters was raised in Everett and attended Everett schools.
In the late 1940’s, he moved to Tewksbury, MA, where he lived for over 35 years.
While residing in Tewksbury, he was a member of the Tewksbury United Methodist Church and served as one of the original members of the churches building committee.
Mr. Peters served as Tewksbury’s second building inspector and according to his family was credited with the development and implementation of the town’s early building codes.
In the 1950’s, he founded the Merrimack Valley Publishing Company of Tewksbury, MA which published the former Merrimack Valley Advertiser Newspaper (Tewksbury-Wilmington Advocate) which he operated until 1972.
In 1976, he moved to Alexandria, New Hampshire and became managing editor of the Bristol Enterprise Newspaper and the Upbeat weekly circular.
In recent years, he owned and operated Grammy and Grampy’s Good Stuff Antique business of Alexandira, NH and served as expeditor and coordinator of the Alexandria Beautification Campaign, which designed and developed the park located in front of the Alexandria, NH town offices.
Mr. Peters was a founding member of the Tewksbury, MA Rotary Club.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters; Nancy Spies and her husband Bob of Oklahoma City, OK, Kim Conant and her husband Richard of Columbia, SC and Janet Garlick of Norman, OK; one son; Gregory Peters of Tewksbury, MA; two sisters; Ruth White and Virginia Niles both of Arlington, TX; two brothers; Harold Peters of Bellingham, MA and Bobby Peters and his wife Ann of Las Vegas, NV; eleven grandchildren; David, Donald, Wayne and Stephen Hinckley, Lynda Snake, Melanie Hawkins, Glenn Garlick, Amanda McKinnis, Megan Bruner, Brad and Garrett Sheehan; also many great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mr. Peters was the father of the late Ralph W. “Skip” Peters, Jr. and brother of the late Dorothy Hoganson, Lucy Peters, Robert and Richard Peters.
At the request of the family services are private. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial celebration to be held at the Alexandira, NH Town Hall at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Alexandria Beautification Campaign, c/o Bank of New Hampshire, Central Square, Bristol, NH 03222 are requested. Local arrangements entrusted to the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, Tewksbury.