PETE WATCHER

Pete Watcher passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, at his home in Sumter. He was 89 years old.

Pete was born in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, a son of John and Mary Watcher, immigrants of Ukraine. He was raised in the coal mining "patch" village of Buck Run. Pete graduated from Cass Township High School in 1951, he was class president as well as captain of the football team and baseball team and lettered in baseball, football and basketball. More importantly, he met his high school sweetheart, Betty Uller, who later became his wife of 59 years. Following graduation, Pete worked for Reading Coal Co. and Bethlehem Steel, until his football coach put him in touch with a scout for the U.S. Naval Academy. He was recruited as a student athlete to play football. He attended Bullis Preparatory School in Silver Spring, Maryland, to prepare for the USNA entrance exams. However, his studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for infantry training and deployment to the Korean War. Due to his brother's intervention, he returned to Maryland to take the USNA entrance exams and successfully passed. Pete became a midshipman in 1953 in 2nd Company and graduated Class of 1957. Upon graduation, he was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force.

He and Betty married on June 15, 1957. They were stationed at Air Force bases in Harlingen, Texas; Tokyo, Japan; Waco, Texas; Sacramento, California; Austin, Texas, and Shaw AFB in Sumter. He earned a master's degree in business at the University of Texas while in Austin. At his last duty station, Shaw AFB, Pete trained on the Douglas Electronic Warfare EB-66C, which detected and jammed enemy air defense radar. He earned the distinguished flying cross flying combat missions during three tours of duty in Vietnam. Pete and Betty had six children and were dedicated parents, attending many athletic, musical and art events over the years. He retired from the USAF in 1979 with the rank of lieutenant colonel and began his business career. He served as president of Air Filter Service and CPS Technologies for 15 years and started another industrial distribution company, Filter Sales and Service, in 1998. Pete was a member of St. Anne and St. Jude Catholic Church. He organized many golf fundraisers to support the Catholic school. He also served on the Sumter Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Rotary Club, and a member of a retired military organization, MOAA.

Pete is survived by his brother, John Watcher (Mabe) of Huntington Beach, California; three daughters, Mary (David) Swain of Woodruff, Ann (Richard) Blum of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Amy Manweiler of Simpsonville; his son, Michael (Beth) Watcher of Sumter; 20 grandchildren, Kathryn (Matt) Dilleshaw, Heather (Brandon) Scarborough, Charlotte (Will) Korn, David Eric Swain, Anna (Westley) Roberts, Cara (Derek) Balcolm, Drew Watcher, Katey (Wade) Soenksen, Joseph Watcher, Jacob Watcher, Philip Watcher, Mary Bennett (Colton) Hinson, Rae Watcher, Gabrielle Blum, Jared Blum, Allison Manweiler, Alex Manweiler, Caroline Manweiler, Lindsey (David) Massey and Kayla (Nate) Stewart; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Pete was predeceased by his wife, Betty, in 2016; and by his sons, Tony Michael Watcher in 2005 and Robert Stephen Watcher in 2016.

A Rosary service will be held from 4:30 to 5 p.m. at Bullock Funeral Home for Catholic friends, followed by visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. today.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at St. Anne and St. Jude Catholic Church, 216 E. Liberty St., Sumter.

Pete and Betty will be interred at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Anne and St. Jude Catholic Church, 216 E. liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150 or to the Sumter SPCA, 140 S. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.