Thomas "Pete" Eugene Pedersen

Thomas "Pete" Eugene Pedersen, 95, of Johns Island, South Carolina, husband of Lydia Hay Pedersen died Wednesday, October 21, 2015. His Funeral Service will be held Saturday, October 24, 2015 in the Johns Island Presbyterian Church, 2550 Bohicket Road at 11:00 a.m. Interment, Churchyard. The family will receive friends Friday, October 23, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

Mr. Pedersen was born in Richland County, Columbia, South Carolina on December 26, 1919. His family moved to downtown Charleston in 1926. Mr. Pedersen was educated in the public school system of Charleston County. He was 1st honor graduate of James Simmons elementary, Valedictorian at High School of Charleston, graduating in 1936. He won an academic scholarship from the City of Charleston, where he began his college career at The Citadel. His father, an immigrant from Denmark being a tailor, sewed his uniform for The Citadel. At The Citadel, he lettered in basketball and baseball. He graduated in 1940. After which, he was recruited to teach at Darlington School for Boys in Rome, Georgia for 1 year. At that time, he was called up for service in World War II where he spent four and one half years, mostly overseas, as a Captain in the Army Field Artillery, ending his service in Europe in 1945.

After the war, Pete attended the University of Virginia Law School graduating in June 1947. While at UVA, he played semiprofessional baseball and basketball in Waynesboro, VA and continued to play both sports in Georgetown, SC when he returned to Charleston, SC.

Pete was also well known in sailing circles having won a number of small boat regattas and sailed in many deep-water races off Florida and in the Bahamas and Chesapeake Bay as crew on the Lonestar sailing yacht with Captain George Lockwood. He was also an avid golfer of some note at the Country Club of Charleston where he served as President and Board Member, and the Governor's Club at Kiawah where he was until his death well known as a raconteur.

Pete served as Assistant Solicitor from 1954-1960 and specialized in commercial and labor law, being one of the first to do so. He was counsel and charter member of the Charleston Chapter of the Subcontractors Association for some 45 years.

He is survived by Lydia Hay Pedersen, his wife of 64 years, two daughters, Lydia Jean Pedersen of Johns Island, SC and Sally P. Causey (Nick) of Charleston, SC ; two grandchildren, Benjamin T. Peters (Alli) and SarahLegare Peters both of Johns Island, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Johns Island Presbyterian Church, 2250 Bohicket Road, Johns Island, SC 29455 or to the Charleston Animal Society, 2455 Remount Road, N. Charleston, SC 29406. .