Orval A. Peters was born May 14, 1927 to Cary and Flossie Allman Peters in Gratiot County Michigan. He completed his earthly race early in the morning of February 10, 2022, having reached the age of 94 years.

Orval was the third child in a family with three brothers and four sisters, and the first years of his life along with his school education were in Harrison, Michigan. He answered God's call, experienced his sins forgiven, and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by minister Frank Haynes on March 12, 1944. Orval began a home of his own when he married Leona Litwiller on November 23, 1947, and they shared 54 years of married life together. Their home was blessed with five children—two sons and three daughters—although sadly, Dennis and Kathy passed away in childhood.

Orval and Leona were married and lived in Michigan for a short time before relocating to Florida, but with the passage of time Mississippi and New Mexico were added to the list of locations that they called home. A special time of service was spent in the mission at Albuquerque, New Mexico and after the term of service was over, they made Albuquerque their place of residence until moving back to Florida in 1992. Wherever "home" was located, it was known as a hospitable place, a place where visitors felt welcome and loved. Orval loved to visit and form relationships with others, and his mind was a treasure trove of interesting stories and adventures from the past.

Relationships were not the only things Orval was skilled in building; the tools of the carpentry trade were familiar in his hands, and he spent many years working with wood on a variety of projects. His base of knowledge was broad, and he was willing to share time and talent with others. He also loved gardening and busied himself caring for his plants as long as his strength allowed, sharing excess produce with family and friends. Orval had the gift of maintaining a positive outlook—"Why would I complain, nobody would want to listen to that", is what he was known to express. Praying was important and meaningful to Orval, and after the lonely years following the loss of his wife, further compounded by declining health and strength, being a "prayer warrior" gave a sense of purpose to his life.

Left to cherish their memories are one son Ken, of Akron, Ohio, two daughters: Sandra & Melvin Iutzi of Walnut Hill, Florida, and Karen & Larry Smith of Surprise Arizona, one brother Bill, and three sisters: Edna, Helen, and Donna & Kurt Fellows, all of Ithaca Michigan; sisters-in-law: Vada Peters of Murray, Kentucky and Ellyn Peters of Ithaca, Michigan; ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his wife Leona, two brothers, one sister, one brother-in-law, one son and one daughter, and two grandsons.

The funeral service was held at Southern Harbor Mennonite Church on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. and officiated by Galen Harms, Cameron Boeckner, and Wesley Wenger. Burial will follow in Walnut Hill Mennonite Church Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Marlin Iutzi, Terrill Iutzi, Adam Peters, Alex Peters, Clifton Smith, Reuben Smith and Jayden Iutzi.

Visitation will be held Monday, February 14, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Southern Harbor Mennonite Church.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.