from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Robert J. “Bob” Peterson, 79, died Jan. 10, 2012.

Mr. Peterson was born in Cedarville, Ohio, to Marion and M. Lucille (Hubbard) Peterson. He served in the army for two years and worked for the Village of Yellow Springs. He retired from the Yellow Springs school system after 14 years as a bus driver. He played baseball, basketball, track, softball, and boxed and bowled.

The love of his life was horses. He and his older brother began to ride horses at the ages of 8 and 10. They broke wild mustangs that were shipped in box cars to Cedarville from the West. He and his younger brother cleared the area known as the Riding Centre in Yellow Springs. They taught youth and adults how to ride horses.

After new management took over the operations of the Riding Centre, Mr. Peterson went into business for himself, breeding, training and driving Standardbreds. He was a member of the USTA as an owner, trainer, breeder and driver.

In the early 1980s he met Becky Brumfield and they started B and B Carriage Service. He was the driver.

Mr. Peterson is survived by his wife, Ruth; former wives, Shirley Turner and Mary Peterson; daughters, D’Vita (Jack) Franklin and Robin Walker; sons, Marshall (Julie) and Tyron (Amy); stepchildren, Gary (Stacy) Guisinger, Mark Miner, Matthew Miner and Melinda Miner; brothers, Russell and J. Michael (Betty); sisters, Frances Allen, Doris Banks, Ruth (John) Coleman and Evelyn Schooler; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Erwin; sisters, Mary Ellen Nelson and Jannett Crosswhite; and his favorite uncle, Bobby.

A celebration will be held July 21 at the farm located at 5 E. Hyde Rd. in Yellow Springs, Ohio, to commemorate his ashes and to share food, stories and pictures.