Rodney F. Peterson

Rodney F. Peterson Obituary

Rodney F. Peterson “Rod” of White Rock, NM left this life on July 2, 2020 to join his beloved wife, Ruth Elizabeth who preceded him in death in 2011.  He was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Rod grew up in Middlebury, Connecticut the son of Axel and Gladys Peterson. 

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 19.  He was assigned to serve aboard the U.S.S. Belleau Wood and became a photographers’ mate.  Rod spent more time shooting than anyone else on the carrier during the vessel’s many battles but never brought down a plane or sank a ship, since his shooting was with a 30-pound aerial camera.  The Belleau Wood was in the thick of the Pacific fighting and Rod saw plenty of action in the naval battle of the Marshalls, the Gilberts and the Marianas Islands.  His battle station was a precarious one in the crow’s nest 50 feet atop the flight deck of the carrier.  His loyalty to duty was justly recognized by the Navy as evidenced by the nine awards bestowed upon him and the Presidential Citation for gallantry for remaining at his post and recording the kamikaze flight plane as it dove into his ship.

After the war when the U.S.S. Belleau Wood returned to this country for repairs Rod was assigned to a naval photography school in New Orleans, LA.  

Following the atomic bomb testing at Bikini in 1946, Rod was flown with the film to Washington where he developed and printed the records in the Photographic Science Laboratory.

Rod volunteered and was assigned to the Antarctic expedition of a U.S. Navy Task Force (Operation Highjump) sailing from Norfolk, VA December 2, 1947 under the leadership of Rear Adm. Richard E. Byrd.

In June, 2018, at age 95, Rod was again thanked for his service by Grateful Americans on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

First and foremost, came Rod’s family.  His marriage to the former Ruth Elizabeth Wayt took place on May 11, 1947.  In 1953 Rodney and his family moved to Granada Hills, CA where he was employed by Marquart Corporation.  In 1954 they returned to Connecticut and in 1963 moved to Los Alamos, NM where Rod was employed as a prototype machinist for Los Alamos National Laboratory.  Rod retired from LANL in 1982 and he and Ruth moved to Pharr, TX in 1984 to pursue their love of Square and Round dancing and play in the Gulf of Mexico.  They travelled extensively in their motor home visiting places of interest, family and friends.  Those who knew him well knew Rod was a lover of animals and especially loved dogs and birds having tamed many dogs and taught a parakeet and two parrots to talk.

The couple raised four children.  They went on many family adventures as Rod and Ruth were avid travelers.    Rod was always interested in what his children were doing whether it was barrel racing, farming, boating or furthering their education.  He liked being involved. He felt just as comfortable at a rodeo, Hobie Catting in Padre Island or watching one of the grandchildren compete in sports or marching band.  Rod was a man of many talents with hobbies that included Ham Radio operator, pilot and locksmith.  The couple shared 63 happy years together.

In addition to his wife, Rod was preceded in death by his parents, Axel and Gladys Peterson and his brother John Robert Peterson.  He is survived by his children, Susan Byrd (Sidney) of Gilbert, AZ, Linnea M. Peterson (Alan C. Munger) of Santa Fe, NM, Rodney F. Peterson II (Kris) of Brooksville, FL, Cheryl Lucero of Los Alamos, NM; grandchildren Jessica Byrd, Jenna L. Gonzales (Jason), Andrew Knee (Tricia) Heidi E. Whalley (Scott),  Ericka Jayne Knee-Walden (William)  Jacqueline Wasson (Matt), Trevor Lucero, Elizabeth Clayton (Kip), Paul Ann Lucero, DVM; and great-grandchildren, Desivee Knee, Kate and Adelyn Whalley, Solea and Adalia Lucero and Olivia Clayton.

Rod will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

Rod will be interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery following a private service with full Military Honors.