Ernest A. Peterson, 89, of Wichita, retired certified public accountant and founding partner of Peterson, Peterson and Goss, died March 3, 2011.

Visitation with the family was 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, at Downing & Lahey Mortuary East, Wichita.

A memorial service was 1 p.m. Monday at University United Methodist Church, Wichita.

Ernest served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He was Trustee Emeritus at McPherson College, past president of the Optimist Club, a lifetime member of University United Methodist Church, and was a member of the Wichita Farm and Ranch Club.

He was preceded in death by wife Inez I. (Fike) Peterson and sisters Imo Klinkerman and Thelma Gard.

Survivors include son Rodney Peterson and wife Krista and daughter Jeanne Leinen and husband Warren, all of Valley Center; brother Milford Peterson and wife Carol of Wichita; sister Clara Mae Parr of McPherson; grandchildren Johanna Roland and husband Toby, Christopher Peterson, Troy Leinen, and Todd Leinen and wife Sarah; great-grandchildren, Katie Faythe, Macey and Levi Roland, Ashlyn, Bryant, Peyton, Kelsey and Danielle Leinen; brothers-in-law Warren Fike and wife Paula and Duane Fike and wife Ruthita.

Memorial contributions may be made to University UMC Building Fund, 2220 N Yale St, Wichita KS, 67220 and the Ernest A. Peterson Scholarship Fund, c/o McPherson College, 1600 E Euclid St, McPherson KS, 67460. Go to http://www.dlwichita.com for more information.