Col. Robert Darden "Pete" Peterson

Colonel Robert Darden “Pete” Peterson, (USAF, Ret.), of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home on March 2, 2014 at age 90.

Pete was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on October 20, 1923 to the late Emma Brooks and Edgar Allen Peterson. After graduating from Jonesboro High School where he was the captain of the football and basketball team, he was accepted as an engineering student and awarded a football scholarship to the University of Mississippi. At the end of that first football season at Ole’ Miss, Pete enlisted in the US Army/Air Corp to aid the war effort in Europe. That decision set him on the pathway of service to God and country that lasted long past his retirement in 1976. During his last month of life he reached out to the surviving members of his Bomber crew.

He was trained as a B-17 pilot and became an aircraft commander at age 20. During WW II, he was a member of the 8th Air Force and completed 28 combat missions. His skill at command and piloting resulted in the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) being awarded in May 1945. During WWII two of the planes that he flew were scrapped after landing due to the amount damage caused by enemy gun fire. After the end of WWII he returned briefly to civilian life only to be recalled to active duty in the service of his country in 1947, serving his country through the Korean War and the Vietnam War where he was Assistant Chief of Directorate of Combat Operations. He was responsible for all surveillance and control of the Strategic Air Command winged resources within Southeast Asia. During 1967-68, Colonel Peterson served as the Air Operations Planner for all tactical and support air activities in the southern portion of North Vietnam and the Southeast Asia interdiction area. He remained a command pilot flying 19 combat missions in support of Vietnamese operations.

As a part of his service he was trusted as few are by being assigned to America’s nuclear Air Force, SAC. As a pilot he was one of the first to fly with atomic and hydrogen weapons.

In 1968 Colonel Peterson was assigned to the Pentagon as Air Force Actions Officer for programs pertaining to the Strategic Air Command. In 1970, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff Operational Directorate. Following his assignments in Washington he accepted the post of Deputy Base Commander at Dyess AFB, a SAC base in Abilene.


A highly decorated officer, Col. Peterson received, in addition to the DFC, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Bronze Star and numerous other medals and awards that reflected his dedication to serving his country and the US Air Force.

During his 33 years of military service, Pete flew B-17’s, B-36’s and B-52’s and logged over 7000 hours. A review written by a commanding officer during Col. Peterson’s military career, sums up the way Pete lived his life at home and when on duty. The CO wrote “Peterson requires a lot of his crew. However, he gives more than he demands of others.” Pete was stationed at Carswell AFB, Ft. Worth, TX from 1947 to 1957. He and his wife, Louise, relocated to Ft. Worth after they retired from the Air Force in 1976. He dedicated the remaining years of his life to his continuously growing family. He was a member of the Strategic Air Command for over 30 years and was a hero to his family and to America.

Pete was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Lillian Louise Jones;(a girl he met at the age of 12 and vowed to marry) ; his beloved granddaughter, Michelle Gignilliat Harvey; his brothers Edgar Allen Peterson, III and James Brooks Peterson.

Col. Peterson was a life-long member of the Southern Baptist Church. During the last years of his life, he would witness to his beliefs by signing his letters and cards to loved ones with the affirmation “Jesus is the way” and John 3:16. The last week of his life, whenever he spoke with friends and family members, he spoke of the coming joy of meeting again in Heaven.

He is survived by his second wife of 19 years, Wanda Hobbs Cooke Jennings; his seven children: Roberta Louise ter Kuile and her husband Chris of Tryon, NC; Patricia Jane Campbell of Rogers, AR; Nancy Sue Rains of Hot Springs, AR; Robert Darden Peterson, Jr. and his wife Patricia of Fairfax, VA; Lillian Elizabeth Downs and her husband Ben of Bryan, TX; Helen Jean Downey of Flat Rock, NC; and Margaret Ann Gignilliat and her husband Matt of Savannah, GA; two step-children, Mike Cooke of Millsat, TX and Janice Jennings of Dublin, TX.; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. On his 90th birthday, 54 descendants attended the celebration.

One of Pete’s last honors was to be featured on the front page of the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, petting the K-9 Comfort Dog, Phoebe. He spent his final days surrounded by his large and loving family.

Friends and family are invited to recollect the life stories of this American hero during visitation at Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro, AR on March 6th from 5-7 p.m.

The funeral service will be at the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro at 10 a.m. on March 7, 2014 with Dr. Bruce Tippit officiating. Interment will be at the Jonesboro City Cemetery with the United States Air Force performing Full Military Honors, and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.