Maj. Peter Paul Kowalchek Jr. died Dec. 7 at Walter Reed Hospital. He was 83.

Peter was born on June 23, 1937, in Worcester, the son of the late Rose and Peter Kowalchek.

Peter and his wife Eleanor moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 2014, and to the Knollwood Military Retirement Community in 2016, after having spent 30 years in Avon, Conn. His later years at Knollwood had been fulfilling, where he and his wife enjoyed meeting fellow residents and participating in the numerous social activities offered by the community. He particularly enjoyed weekly karaoke nights and participated in many of Knollwood’s musical productions.

Peter joined the Civil Air Patrol while in high school. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, where he also had the opportunity to serve in Germany. His 23-year military career encompassed a variety of positions, including weapons director, senior director of flight operations, and group standards evaluation officer.

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts, he was employed by a division of Emerson Electric Company. With a career spanning 37 years, his expertise was widely respected within the engineering and sales sectors of the company.

Peter and his wife were avid sailors for over 30 years, having sailed the waters of New England (Mystic, Newport, Block Island, and Martha’s Vineyard) and Long Island. They spent more than 50 summers on Martha’s Vineyard at their family home on Samoset avenue in Oak Bluffs where they enjoyed sailing, swimming, and relaxing and reading on the porch. Peter also enjoy traveling, having participated on various trips throughout Europe with his wife and exploring the Caribbean and Mexico on various cruises.

He is survived by his wife of over 55 years, Eleanor Kowalchek; a daughter, Sandra Kowalchek, of North Bethesda, Md.; a son, Scott Kowalchek, his wife, Nichola, and two grandchildren, Britain and Kira, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif; two siblings, Ken Kowalchek, of Hampton, N.H.; Marie Bell and her husband Peter of Vestavia Hills, Ala. He was predeceased by his older sister, Joan R. Trefethen of Dayton, Ohio.

A memorial service will be held at the Knollwood Military Retirement Community at a date to be determined in 2021; and a Catholic chapel service and interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in 2021, also at a date to be determined.

For online guestbook, please visit: www.devolfuneralhome.com/obituaries.