John F. Peters

John Fell Peters, age 93, of Gardners, PA passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Messiah Village in Mechanicsburg, PA. Born in Gardners, PA on November 22, 1929, John was the eldest son of the late John B. and Mary E. Koller Peters.

John served as past president of both John B. Peters, Inc. and of The Peters Orchards. He also served as a director of Knouse Foods. John was a trustee of Dickinson College, and a board member at PNC Bank, formally CCNB and the Gettysburg Hospital. John was a member of the Carlisle Rotary, The Salvation Army, Zembo Temple, the Pennsylvania Cherry Board, the Adams County Fruit Growers Association, and the Farm Bureau Association.

John's many accomplishments started early in life graduating as class Valedictorian from Rumson High School, Rumson NJ. He went on to attend Dickinson College, class of 1952. John also completed a graduate program at Cornell University in Agriculture. John was an active member of the local community and the Carlisle United Methodist Church ( previously Allison United Methodist Church), singing in the choir. John was an avid reader and historian, enjoyed classical music, and cherished his work and family.

John had many wonderful experiences during his time running the Peters Orchards - notably, he had the distinguished honor of driving President Dwight Eisenhower around the orchards to show him the numerous ponds used for irrigation. John spent almost every day of his adult life at the Peters Orchards farm, caring for the land and the people who worked it. John was a devoted steward of the orchards during his life. His name and the farm were practically synonymous. John will be most remembered by his work on the farm.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years Mary Reisinger Peters; daughter Mary Peters Kuhn and her husband Stephen Kuhn of Mechanicsburg, PA; daughters-in-law Ellen Peters Otto of Carlisle, PA and Stacey Peters of Red Creek, NY; brother William Peters and his wife Shelbia of Biglerville, PA and sister Susan Wirths of Frederick, MD. John is also survived by seven grandchildren: Elizabeth Peters, John C. Peters, Allison Kuhn, Mary Ellen Kuhn, Jack Kuhn, Kensey Peters and Brian Peters.

In addition to his late parents, John was preceded in death by his sons John R. Peters and Harry K. Peters; brothers George Peters and Earl Peters and sisters Mary Sandels and Virginia Aires.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM Monday, October 23, 2023, at the Carlisle United Methodist Church, 333 S. Spring Garden St., Carlisle, PA 17013. Viewing will be held at the church on Monday from 11:00 AM until service time. Private interment will take place at Mt. Victory Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to the Carlisle United Methodist Church, the Rotary Club of Carlisle, or the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hoffman Funeral Home & Crematory, 2020 W. Trindle Rd., Carlisle, PA 17013. To read full obituary and to sign online guestbook, please visit www.HoffmanFH.com.