Keith Peterson

LTC Keith R. Peterson, USAF (Ret.), devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and public servant, was born in Davenport, Iowa. After attending St. Ambrose College in Davenport, he enlisted in the US Air Force in 1951 and entered the Aviation Cadet Pilot Training program, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant and his pilot wings on December 19, 1952. On December 27, he married Dorothy Dolphin of Maquoketa, Iowa. Keith and Dorothy were very active in the Catholic Church at St. Ambrose, St. Phillips, and Mt. Tabor. They were married for more than 70 years. Dorothy preceded him in death. During his Air Force career, he flew the F-80, T-33, multiple models of F-86, F-101B, F-105, C-47, and C-131. He served in fighter squadrons across the United States and Europe with assignments in Africa and Southeast Asia. Following his service in Southeast Asia, he was assigned to the Command Center at Air Force Alternate Headquarters, Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, and later to the Air Force Operations Center at the Pentagon. After retiring from the Air Force in 1975, he continued his federal service as an operations and plans officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. During the Cold War, he developed and managed a minimum attack warning helicopter evacuation program for presidential successors. He also oversaw FEMA operations centers at headquarters in Washington, D.C.; the underground facility at Mount Weather; and the National Warning Center in Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs. He retired in 1993, concluding a 43-year career in federal service. Our Dad passed on March 9th, 2026. Keith was an avid gardener, landscaper, woodworker, bird lover, and a lifelong fisherman. Dad loved his family dearly. He was always kind and his cheerfulness and enthusiasm were contagious. He will be in our hearts forever. Keith is survived by his children, Chris (Dave) Umberger; Charlotte Peterson (Kurt Heinonen); Jill (Dave) Huff; and Keith (Haleh) Peterson, Jr.; and his grandchildren Pierce Umberger, Dillon (Elizabeth) Umberger, Kate Heinonen (Katie Mount), Sam Huff, Jaimis Huff (Brendan) Flynn, and great-grandchildren, Jack and Giovanni Flynn. A Requiem Mass will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Road, Vienna, VA on Wednesday, March 25 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to the Alzheimer's Association.