David A. Peter

David A. Peter of Grand Coulee, Washington, passed away peacefully at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2023. His beloved wife, Barbara, and his sister teddy were by his side. Their loving care allowed him to recover at home for several months.

Dave was born March 11, 1947, in Long Beach, California, to Theodore and Beverly Peter. His three sisters would follow to complete the family. In those early years they lived primarily in Orange County California when it was still farming country. Dave enjoyed hunting, fishing, and taxidermy as a young man. He was a willing worker and assisted his dad and grandparents with whatever chores needed doing. This early experience laid the foundation for further discovery of his German mechanical skills.

When he was a teen, his dad purchased a service station in

Ivanhoe, California, and that is where Dave's love of all things mechanical especially cars truly began. He attended Redwood High School in Visalia, California, where he participated in football and track. He went on to College of the Sequoias, receiving an AA degree, then to Fresno State earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968. While in college, he joined the Army Reserve. Dave was a great conversationalist, and he could swap stories with the best of them. He remembered most of what he learned, and he could talk philosophy to fertilizer no problem!

After college Dave was hired by Chrysler Corporation as a factory representative in California. In 1974 he was transferred to Spokane,

Washington. When he got off the plane it was a cold snowy day and he wondered what he'd gotten himself into. As it turns out what he had gotten himself into was a 50-year romance with Barbara Thurston who worked in accounting at Dishman Dodge, one of the dealerships he called on weekly. They were married September 11, 1976, and one month later he was transferred to the Seattle area. Reluctantly Barbara and her two sons Todd and Chad Wilson, followed a short time later. Dave spent the majority of his 35-year career representing Chrysler Corporation and various Bellevue dealerships.

Dave's dream was to have an antique Chrysler auto parts business, the beginnings of "NW Obsolete Auto." Within a few years of moving west he cleared land they'd purchased, and they built their dream home northeast of Woodinville Washington. They also had pastures for Barbara's llamas and a large yard and shop for Dave's business. You never knew what you'd find under berry vines!

In 2007 the hectic pace of the huge cities had them thinking seriously of moving to Barbara's hometown of Grand Coulee. It was hard to leave their nice home and the Maltby Cafe of which Barbara was a partner. The other major task would be moving the auto parts business. Dave, with his usual patience and persistence, loaded and unloaded 7 separate large trailer trips over the mountains for two months! People have suggested his inventory would make a good episode for the American Pickers show, but he would have none of it! They were able to find a large piece of property just east of Spring Canyon for their new beginning and again created a unique environment for themselves. They were welcomed into the community and reconnected with the Grand Coulee Community Church a ready-made family!

Dave is predeceased by his parents, Ted and Beverly Peter, stepson Todd Wilson and brothers-in-law Don Higgins and Jack Noble.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, sisters: Teddy Jones, Deborah

Noble and Carolyn Peter, all of California; stepson Chad Wilson and Anna, Tanner, and Hunter Wilson; his Thurston family: Chuck, Deborah, Ryan and Vanessa, Linda and John Wilson, Scott and Bradley Klass, Janelle Higgins, and Kelly Pierce.

His family sends a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Coulee Medical Center for making Dave as comfortable as possible and making his passing as tolerable as possible for his family.

A memorial service will be held Friday March 15, 2024, at Grand Coulee Community Church beginning at 1pm. A reception will follow at the church.