Charles Peters

Charles (Chuck) Peters age 86 died the 1st of January 2025 in Yakima, WA. Chuck was born July 1st 1938 to Charles (Bob) Peters and Lois Peters in Yakima, WA. Chuck grew up on his family’s orchard in Wapato with his brothers Bruce and Frank. According to Bruce, Chuck could often be found up in a tree reading a book and shirking work. He went to Washington State University to study horticulture. There he met a very serious student of floriculture, Catharine (Cathy) Gibson. Chuck married Cathy in 1962. They had two children, Christopher (Chris) and Cynthia. In 1966 he moved back to Wapato with Cathy to run his family’s orchard. He loved the mountains and took his family on “hard hikes” in the Cascades. He wanted his family to ski. He took us to the high places out in the woods where the snow was the freshest! He was once asked by a dear friend, “Chuck, how do you know if your business is improving?” The correct reply was, “If your skiing is getting better, Charlie.” “Why not go out on a limb? Isn’t that where the fruit is?” Dad looked at this quote every morning. Chuck relentlessly sought out more efficient ways to grow fruit during his career. It was an open shop. He would tell you everything he knew, but you had to ask the right question. He believed he could out execute his competition. He had a gardener’s heart. He grew the industry he worked in, the community he worked within, and most importantly the people he worked with. He was a host father and mentor to 26 horticultural interns from New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Michigan, New York, Holland, France, Spain, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Poland, and Germany. He was a member and past president of the Yakima POM club. He was a two term Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commissioner. He was a past president of the Washington State Horticultural Association. He earned one Silver Apple, two Silver Pears amongst other awards. He loved pears the most of all because they are the most difficult crop to grow. He is survived by his brother Frank (Joanie), sister in law Irene, his children Chris Peters and Cynthia Kimel (Metiner), and his grandchildren Max Peters, Elsa Peters, Ava Kimel, and Zak Kimel. The family suggests donations to the Washington Apple Education Foundation, continuing the Peters legacy of learning in honor of Chuck and Cathy. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Peters, please visit our flower store.