Antone Lewis Peterson Jr.

Antone Lewis "Tony" Peterson, Jr., 87, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, the 11th of February 2014. Tony was born in Houston on the 26th of August, 1926, to Alfreda Jenkins Peterson and Antone Lewis Peterson. He attended Lamar High School and The Rice Institute. After completing his service in the Merchant Marine during World War II, he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from Rice in 1949. Following his graduation from Rice, Tony spent his entire career at Peterson Brothers Steel Erection Company, which had been founded during the Depression years; there, with his father, uncle, and brother, he helped to erect many of the distinctive buildings of the Houston skyline as well as numerous significant steel structures throughout Texas and the southern United States.

Tony married Sara Nan Snoddy on the 11th of June, 1947 at Central Presbyterian Church in Houston, thus beginning a loving and devoted partnership that lasted until Sara Nan’s death in 2012.

Tony delighted in entertaining family and friends in his Houston home; at “Sagama”, the family lake house in Bull Shoals, Arkansas; and at the family’s South Texas “Guajillo Ranch” on the Nueces River. He loved to fish and hunt ducks, dove, and quail with family and friends. He enjoyed the fellowship of friends at the Executives Association of Houston, almost sixty years of golf and camaraderie at Lakeside Country Club, and volunteer service at St. Philip Presbyterian Church and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Tony and Sara Nan shared a near life-long relationship with the “Sindicate”, a group of close high-school friends and spouses who traveled together, raised their families together, and enjoyed each other’s company as extended family. Tony had many fond memories of the Sindicate’s “progressive dinners”, golf outings, hunting trips, and pilgrimages to “Guajillo Ranch” and “Apple Gulch” in Hunt, Texas.

Throughout his life, Tony cared for and supported family and friends. He was a devoted spouse and a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. We have been blessed by his steadfast kindness and generosity, and we will be eternally grateful for his presence and influence in our lives.

Tony is survived by sons Antone Lewis Peterson III and wife Susan and Homer Rufus Peterson II and wife Nancy; grandchildren Sara Kristen Johnson and husband Corey, Kara Elisabeth Peterson, Antone Leslie Peterson, and Clifton Morgan (Pete) Peterson and fiancée, Mary Cary Ward; and great-grandsons Craig David Johnson and Cameron Patrick Johnson. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Mary Weisman Peterson and Esther Sue (Suzie) Robertson Snoddy; nephews and niece, George Alfred (Al) Peterson, Jr., Lawrence Andrew (Larry) Peterson and wife Mary, Julie Peterson Storm and husband Hal Carr, James Emmett (Jim) Snoddy III and wife Andrea, and Walter Edward Snoddy and wife Susie. He is now reunited with his beloved wife, Sara Nan, his parents, Alfreda and Antone Lewis (Pete) Peterson, his brother, George Alfred Peterson, and his brother-in-law, James Emmett (Jimmy) Snoddy, Jr.

Tony wished to honor the following friends as Honorary Pallbearers: Dick Baile, Bob Goff, Fred Strowbridge, Mike Tomforde, and Herb Ulbricht; and as Pallbearers in Absentia: Jack Apple, Ed Christy, Hugh Gordon, John Hill, Harvey Houck, Charles Nettles, Claxton Rayzor, and Joe Sperry.

A memorial service in celebration of Tony’s life will be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon, on Friday, the 14th of February 2014 at St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe Road in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. John W. Wurster, Pastor, is to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family in a reception to be held in the adjacent gathering area.

In lieu of customary remembrance, memorial contributions may be made to St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe Road, Houston, TX 77056 or to the charity of your choice.