Walter R. Peck

Asheville Monday, October 19, 6:17pm, Walter Richard Peck of Bent Tree Road (Asheville NC) passed gently into the presence of his Lord, following a brief illness. Mr. Peck, 83, was known to many in various circles as aeronautical research engineer, inventor, Bible teacher, local church elder, philanthropist, friend, brother, father, and husband. To his last breath, his great desire was to be a testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ in every phase of his life. As Vice President for Research and Development at Stencil Engineering, and later at LME Engineering, Mr. Peck became well known in the aerospace industry for innovations in aircraft safety systems. Known for the structural integrity and efficiencies of his high-engineered ejector seats and components, he and his team developed seats for fighter aircraft, safety devices for the space shuttle (following the Challenger disaster), and, as recently as the past few weeks, a safety system for combat helicopters. During his professional career, he presented papers to many professional organizations. In 1991, he was awarded the M. P. KOCH Award for significant contributions to the advancement of hardware for safety applications. And in 2005 he received the SAFE Association Award for career achievement for significant contributions in the field of safety. Mr. Peck was a graduate of Ben Lippen School and completed Bachelors and Masters Degrees, as well as significant post graduate work at North Carolina State University--and later MITin electrical and mechanical engineering. He was a veteran of the United States Army, where he served at Los Alamos, New Mexico during World War II. Most important to Mr. Peck was his work in the Church. He served on the board of directors of Camp Living Water, Bryson City, North Carolina, from the early 1980s to 2009. He was co-founder and board member of an annual mens Bible conference there, beginning in the 1970s. Beginning in 1960, guided by a personal conviction regarding the need for solid, Bible-based Christian education, Mr. Peck began serving on the board of directors of the institution now known as Asheville Christian Academy. He continued in various leadership, board, and volunteer capacities throughout the 1970s. Mr. Peck served as an elder at the Asheville Gospel Chapel for more than four decades, where he provided teaching, counseling, and spiritual leadership for his fellow Christians. During those years, he and Mrs. Peck were known for their faithfulness to the local church, frequently opening their home to traveling Christian workers. Mr. Peck is survived by his wife Mildred Murray Peck; two sons, Walter Richard Peck, Jr. of Dallas, Texas and David Murray Peck of Asheville; a daughter, Anne Rebecca Peck Gibbons of Greenville, South Carolina; two daughters-in-law, Mary Lind Hawthorne Peck and Sandra Kilgore Peck; a son-in-law, James Gibbons; grandchildren, Jonathan Peck, Kristen Peck, Tiffany Briggs, and Melissa Van Chena; and great grandchildren, Hunter and Hadley. He is preceded by his daughter-in-law, the late Ruth Anne Rawls Peck; and a granddaughter, the late Sarah Peck. Visitors may call at Anders- Rice Funeral Home, from 6:00-8:00, Thursday evening. The funeral will be at 2:00, Friday afternoon, at the Asheville Gospel Chapel on Old Haw Creek Road, followed by a graveside service. Memorials may be made in his name to Asheville Gospel Chapel, Asheville Christian Academy, or Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML).