William "Bill" Ira Peters III walked through the pearly gates of heaven on October 17, 2023.

He was born on May, 21, 1931 to the late Sarah Backer Peters and William I. Peters, Jr. in Miami, Florida. His sister, Sarah Wilbur Peters Schreffler and her husband, Forrest Schreffler of Jensen Beach, Florida also preceded him in death. Bill and his family spent many hours in the family fishing business in Miami and the Florida Keys. They moved to Jensen Beach, Florida where they had a smoked fish business called Mrs. Peters Smoked Fish which is still in business. He spent 12 years in St. Thomas where he helped build a marina and also ran a restaurant. Bill was a yacht carpenter and he captained yachts up and down the Intercoastal Waterway.

For the last 25 years, he enjoyed restoring antique furniture and making clocks and stars. Bill was an active Mason and received a certificate for seventy years of membership and was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason by the West Broward Lodge of Pembroke Pines, Florida. He served in the U. S. Navy from 1962-1964. He and his wife, Marie enjoyed traveling to 44 states primarily in their pop-up camper which he totally remodeled.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Marie Brittain Peters and his daughter, Cindy Burgess of Gastonia, NC; his son, William Ira Peters IV and wife, Lisa of Dadeville, Alabama; step-son, David Martin of Jacksonville, Florida; step-daughter, Janice Beaver of Shelby, NC; grandchildren, Ashley Snyder (Jay), and their children, Mya, Evan, and Luke of Gastonia, NC and Steven Burgess (Kelly) and their daughter Adelaide of Macon, Georgia, Lauren Peters of Auburn, Alabama and step-grandson, Joshua Beaver (Alison) of Chapel Hill, NC, step-granddaughter, Stephanie Beaver and her fiancé, Chris Simpson of Shelby, NC.; nephews, Billy Schreffler (Judy) of Jensen Beach, Florida and Richard Schreffler (Noella) of Marianna, Florida. and their children, Levi Schreffler and Jacob Schreffler of Marianna, Florida.

A memorial service will be at the chapel of Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM, with Dr. Rick Bowlin officiating. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Condolence messages may be made online at cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory is compassionately serving the Peters family.