Funeral services for Paul Becker Petersen, 84, of Ninnekah, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 26, 2018 at Grand Assembly of God Church in Chickasha, Oklahoma with Pastor Gary Rogers officiating.
Paul Becker Petersen was born January 8, 1934 in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Henry Petersen and Minerva (Becker) Petersen. He died Sunday, January 21, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Paul attended school in Elmsford, New York. He joined the United States Marines as a young man and served his country from 1951 to 1954.
He enjoyed building projects, working with his hands, home renovations and collecting tools. He loved classical music and old movies. Paul also had a great interest in history. He loved all animals and enjoyed sitting on the patio watching the birds at the feeder and the local wildlife.
On May 15, 2008, Paul married Rita Watson in Anadarko, Oklahoma. They enjoyed almost ten years of marriage and enjoyed taking road trips together, exploring Oklahoma. He considered himself an honorary “Okie”.
For the last nine years, he really enjoyed his job as an Underground Electrical Locator at Fort Sill Military Base in Lawton, Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by both parents; brother, Charles Petersen; two sisters, Doris and Anne; and daughter, Patricia Petersen.
Survivors include his wife, Rita, of the home; sons, Paul Christopher Petersen of Tampa, Florida and Eric Petersen and wife, Kristie, of Charleston, South Carolina; daughters, Susan Maldonado and husband, Joe, of Waxhaw, North Carolina, Lori Persico and husband, Ed, of Gilbert, Arizona, and Kristine McHugh of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; stepdaughters, Stacy Williams and husband, Mitchell, of Chickasha; Skylar Winn of Mustang; and Rachael Youngman and husband, Nic, of Houston, Texas; twenty-seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and other extended family and friends.
Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. in Paoli Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.