Chester John Peck died July 13, 2003, on Vashon Island. He was 83 years old.

He was born Sept. 13, 1919, in Yakima, Wash., to Roscoe and Violet Rose Peck.

John grew up in the Northwest and Canada, attended Yakima High School through the 10th grade and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. He manned a lookout post and was on fire patrol on Mt. Adams and elsewhere in Washington during his service with the CCC.

In 1941 he moved to Oakland, Calif. He married Patricia Gentry on Jan. 9, 1942, in a double wedding ceremony with Edith Peck, his sister, and his closest friend Donald Forbes Sr.

During World War II, he received parachute packing training in San Diego. He was stationed in the Army Air Corps base at Lemore Field in California, where he rose to the position of superintendent of the Parachute Packing, Canvas and Leather Department. He was transferred to the Santa Maria Army Air Corps base in Santa Maria, Calif.

After World War ll, John and his wife owned and operated a service station in Pismo Beach, Calif., for five years. In 1950 they moved to San Diego, where Mr. Peck managed a large full service station, car rental agency and towing service for 20 years.

In 1973 he was forced into early retirement due to throat cancer. After his larynx was removed he learned to speak again using the esophageal speech method. He and his wife moved to Beaverton, Ore., when she retired to be close to his brother Harold and his family.

Shortly after their move, his wife died, and the next year he moved to Vashon, where he lived for the past 18 years.

Mr. Peck was active in the Vashon Maury Island Senior Center, where he served as a member and co-president of the board. He ran the Saturday night bingo games for 10 years and drove the center’s van for more than 10 years, belonged to the property management committee and frequently worked in the kitchen washing dishes and serving meals. He was known for grilling the best hot dogs on Vashon.

Mr. Peck was also a member of the Grange, where he served as treasurer and in many other capacities. He received the Pomona Grange “Man of the Year” award in 2000. He received other honors including the Volunteer of the Year from King County Senior Services and an award from the American Association of Retired People for community service.

Many seniors are grateful for the assistance they received from him over the past 18 years.

Everyone who knew John loved him, his friends and family say. He was known as a selfless man, a “gentleman’s gentleman,” who always sought to be of service to others. He loved people and always found the best in everyone he knew. He exuded optimism and a happy “can do” attitude towards life.

Survivors include Luella Lodahl, his loving companion of the last 18 years; his daughter Nancy Reynolds of Kennewick, Wash.; his granddaughter Patricia Reynolds and two great grand children, Jessica and Austin of Pullman, Wash., his sister Edith Wydra of San Diego; his brother Harold Peck of Beaverton, Ore., and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Peck also enjoyed a loving relationship with Luella’s children, Loretta Hoyt, Karen Hoffman, Victor Lodahl and Drew Lodahl.

His wife, parents and brother Vernon Peck died earlier.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vashon Maury Island Senior Center or the Vashon Lutheran Church.