Evelyn K. Peterson was a servant leader who guided with love and humility, according to her family.
She was also a powerhouse, according to her resume. She attained the rank of major in World War II, achieving a Bronze Star, and served as personal assistant to Major Edwin Armstrong, whose name appears in America’s Who’s Who for his cutting edge discovery of Frequency Modulation.
In 1950, Peterson and her husband moved to the small town of La Jolla, where they established Peterson and Company, which continues today as an established accounting firm.
Peterson worked and lived a long life, reluctantly retiring at the age of 76. Peterson died unexpectedly on May 1 at Scripps Memorial Hospital. She was 87.
Peterson’s active life extended beyond the paper and pen of her work world, however. She was a devoted member of the Christian Science Church on Girard Avenue, a faith that inspired and comforted her since childhood.
Countless hours were also spent playing bridge and lunching at the La Jolla Country Club, where the she and her husband were members for more than half a century.
The local YMCA, La Jolla Playhouse and La Jolla Stage were also dear to Peterson, who was a member of each organization.
Peterson was also committed to the Republican Party and supported numerous institutes and foundations, including the La Jolla Republican Women’s Association, The Young American Foundation, The Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute and The Claremont Institute.
Peterson was born on Jan. 13, 1919, in Minneapolis. She married George Peterson in 1948, and was married for 51 years before George passed away in 1999.
Peterson is survived by her daughter, Terri Zimdars, and son-in-law Mark Zimdars; granddaughters Mollie and Emily Zimdars and grandson Mac Zimdars; and her sister, Eileen Roche. She was preceded in death by her daughter Susan in 1995.