Peter C. Wilkins

Peter Craig Wilkins, 69, of Shepherdstown passed away peacefully on Friday, September 29, 2017 at his home, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Born December 2, 1947 in Philadelphia, PA. Peter spent most of his younger years growing up Connecticut and New Jersey. The high school years he lived on the east coast of Florida. Peter honorably served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1966 to 1968. Peter went back north and opened the store Climbers and Campers in Springfield, Mass. with his friend John. They ran this store for 4 years. Upon selling it he enrolled at the State University of New York at Albany and earned a BS cum laude in Business Administration in 1976 and an MBA in Management Information Systems in 1977. It was during this time he learned about the wine industry and developed an appreciation for the many variety of grapes and the wine making process.

Peter was Director of Information Systems in the Medical Device Division for American Cyanamid Company of Wayne, NJ. He then moved the family of four to Cincinnati, OH and worked for Quantum Chemical Corporation. In 2001 he became Senior Director of Corporate Information Technology for Mylan Labs Inc., of Morgantown, WV. After a career in the corporate world, Peter turned to academia and became Program Director of the Project Management Office at Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV, allowing him to remain in mountaineer country.

Always wanting to retire in the Civil War countryside, when presented with an opportunity in Falling Waters, WV in 2011, he joined C2 Technologies as a Deputy Program Manager.

Upon his final retirement in 2013, Peter decided to share his love of wine as a pourer at Breaux Vineyards, but decided he enjoyed the other side of the counter much more and even dabbled in making his own wine, several vintages of which he has shared with many.

Peter’s great love of the outdoors led him to kayaking the Antietam Creek and the Potomac River, bicycling on the C&O trail, and cross country skiing the Adirondacks or any place there was snow. His careful attention to detail and profound ability at planning led to many trips near and far, shared with family and friends always ensuring that there might be a wine tasting stop or two along the route.

Peter is survived by his wife Monica of 36 years, their sons Christopher, wife Audrey and grandchildren Eline, Flora and Liam; and Eric and his wife Heather. Peter was preceded in death by his brother Paul.

Peter was a larger than life kind of guy, fun loving and smart and for that he will be missed by many.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Strider Funeral Home in Charles Town, WV from 3 to 5 p.m. Peter’s final resting place will be at Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY in the spring of 2018 where there will be a memorial service and Celebration of Life for family and friends.

Memorial gifts are suggested to Antietam National Battlefield or a charity of your choice.

Please sign the online guestbook and view his obituary at www.mtstrider.com.