Obituary of Joel Burt Peterson

Joel Burt Peterson, 90, of Vienna, Virginia, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2023.

Born January 26, 1933 to Joel Bigelow Peterson and Vivian Camille Peterson (née Hamilton) in Chicago, Burt graduated from Summit High School in Summit, New Jersey, where he played football for his school team. He was a proud graduate of Cornell University's engineering program and had a long career in the aerospace industry. He was fascinated to watch engineering move from the era of slide rules to electronic calculators and finally desktop computers.

Burt married Phyllis Mae Makuh July 4, 1959 and they had four children. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hiker and camper. He was also passionate about many sports throughout his life, from sailing to cycling and soccer. He enjoyed learning about the history of the American Civil War and listening to baroque music, particularly Bach. In recent years, he enjoyed visiting with friends and family and taking long walks by the creek behind his house.

Burt is survived by his former wife and dear friend Phyllis, his brother Tom, his children Bill, Judy, Laura, and April, and his grandchildren Sam, Emily, Nick, Charlie, Brooke, and Everett, some of whom like spicy food almost as much as Burt did. He is predeceased by his brothers Charles and Don.