Sanford “Sandy” Peters, Jr.

Sanford “Sandy” Peters, Jr., 91, of Ft. Myers, FL passed away Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Ft. Myers after a courageous battle with medical issues caused from two falls. He was born February 26, 1923 in Lynbrook, NY to Sanford, Sr. and Rae Peters, now deceased. He lived as a boy close to Forest Hills Tennis Club in Queens, where he developed a lifetime love of tennis.

Sandy was a WWII Army Air Corps veteran. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force stationed in Thurleigh, England, and was part of the 306th Bomb Group, known as “First over Germany”. He was a highly decorated B-17 pilot with 34 completed missions during WWII, including D-Day known as “Special Target”. In 2008 he was awarded the French Foreign Legion Medal of Honor for his service in the liberation of France. He was a former member of the Landings Yacht and Tennis Club. Sandy was also a member of the Distinguished Flying Cross Club of SW Florida. He was discharged from service in 1945, and started a sales career with IBM in Manhattan, working with the CEO and founder, Thomas Watson, Sr. He then moved to CT, and met future wife Wanda “Woodie”, and they were married in July 1954. He owned The Ridgeway Restaurant on the Berlin Turnpike, where the original TV Superman, George Reeves, was known to frequent. The family moved to St. Petersburg, FL in 1958. Sandy worked in sales, and managerial positions in auto and major appliance sales until the family’s move to Fort Myers in 1980. The family opened Sun TV and Appliances in 1981, and Sandy was owner-operator until 2014.

He is survived by his loving son, Sanford Peters, III and his wonderful wife Lisa of Ft. Myers; one dear sister, Lucille Caldwell of St. Petersburg, FL; a nephew, Clay Caldwell and his caring wife, Lisa; as well as his granddaughter, Jennifer Peters and her fiancé, Zachary Trantina.

Sandy was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda V. Peters in 1996, and his baby daughter, Patricia Anne in 1963.
Memorial contributions in memory of Sanford Peters, Jr. are suggested to Hope Hospice, 9470 Healthpark Cir, Fort Myers, FL 33908.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

Military honors will be presented 9:30 AM Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at Sarasota National Cemetery, Sarasota, FL, and interment there will follow.