Ron “Natz” Peters

Ron “Natz” Peters, 80, of Largo, Florida, passed away on October 13, 2018. He was born June 30, 1938, to Wilma Neaveill Peters and Ralph Peters in Peoria, Illinois. He is survived by his loving wife, Elana Margaret Peters; his sister, Darla Fonseca; two children, Kalley Stanton and Ronald N. Peters Jr.; and has seven grandchildren, Marshall, A.J., Jeffery, Emily, Emerald, Brianna, and Lacey; and several great-grandchildren.

Wilma was a teenager working as a beautician’s assistant. Ralph was a union enforcer and a notorious bad boy. Smitten with Wilma, he hung out a lot at the beauty shop. But Wilma emphatically refused his offers of dates saying, “The only place I will go with you is to church!” One day Ralph asked what time he could pick her up Sunday morning. That morning he was wonderfully and powerfully saved and gave his life to serving God.

Ralph eventually became a  church planter, starting and building churches in Adel Iowa; Columbia, South Carolina; Streator, Illinois; and California. So as a child Ron moved around a lot. His family struggled to make ends meet; but, always provided well for little Ronnie. As a teenager he helped his father in the construction of the church buildings.

Ron’s dream was to become a military chaplain and he attended Bible school in St. Petersburg, while working as a Police Officer. However, due to a personal disappointment, he walked away from school one semester from graduation.

That’s when he discovered that he was very good at racing cars. He gained quite a local and dedicated fan following for his intimidating figure eight racing at Sunshine Speedway. He also competed at tracks across the country.

In an effort to make “The Big Time”, NASCAR Grand National Competition, he and friends began building the car in 1980.  Wilma bought her “Ronnie” a brand new firesuit to wear at Daytona. What he didn’t know was that she took the red uniform to her ladies Bible study where they gathered around the suit and prayed for his safety. Those prayers may have saved his life. He entered at Daytona; but, couldn’t qualify due to engine problems. During the consolation race, the car was totaled in a violent crash and subsequent fire. He walked away from the maelstrom. Film of the multi-car wreck has been viewed worldwide and the name “Natz” Peters became well known among race fans everywhere. You can still see the crash on You Tube. That firesuit the ladies Bible study prayed over came through the fireball without so much as a burn or scent of smoke even though Ron’s goggles had melted to his face in the intense heat. He retired the suit without washing it as a witness of God’s saving power in his life.

A decade later another crash altered the course of his life. He was pulling his van out onto 70^th Ave in Pinellas Park when a semi collided with him and the van spun out into a telephone pole. Surprised to still be alive and with no broken bones, he had a moment with his creator.  He heard a voice speak to his heart, “Son, I will not call you again.” It scared him right into the office of the local church where he met with the pastor and rededicated his life to the Lord.

Shortly thereafter, he was back in Bible school completing that last semester of work toward his Master’s in Biblical Studies. Elana was teaching at the school.  They married in the spring of his graduation.

Not long after, he was invited by Al Varnadore, new owner of Eastbay Raceway Park in Tampa, to serve as a race track chaplain. Finally his dream of being a chaplain was actualized! He served there nearly a decade leading the race opening prayer, conducting a driver’s meeting devotional and composing a weekly article in the race program he named, “Chaplains Corner”.

Ron was a genius at constructing in steel. He made a living manufacturing stands for animal cages. But he also designed roll cages for race cars, built horse trailers, and untwisted all the stuff the local electric company crashed. He drew up the plans and built his own house. Of course, he was always busy fabricating race cars.

Ron and Elana traveled in the hot summer months as much as they could in a motor home from 2002 until his illness prevented it in 2014. His 4 year battle with Supra Nuclear Palsy finally ended October 13. By the end of his life he could no longer feed himself, walk or talk. It was so sad to see such a tough strong guy a prisoner of his body. He’s in heaven with Jesus and his Mama now. He’ll be missed; but, at the same time, it’s such a relief that he’s finally free. We’re sure there is a welding shop somewhere in heaven.

He is survived by his loving wife, Elana Margaret Peters; his sister, Darla Fonseca; two children, Kalley Stanton and Ronald N. Peters Jr.; and has seven grandchildren, Marshall, A.J., Jeffery, Emily, Emerald, Brianna, and Lacey; and several great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for 10AM on Friday, October 26, 2018, at Gulf Coast Church, 13301 Walsingham Road, Largo, FL 33774.