Life-long Floridian, historian, author and former state lawmaker, Vernon Peeples has died. The fifth generation Floridian passed away Sunday at the age of 85. Peeples served as a Democrat in the Florida House of Representatives representing portions of Charlotte, DeSoto, Lee and Hardee counties from 1982 through 1996.
The Charlotte Sun reports that in the late 1980s, Peeples was on the ground floor of efforts to create Florida Gulf Coast University and spearheaded funding efforts to create a Charlotte County campus of Florida Southwestern State College.
For 13 years, Peeples provided a historical perspective on Florida through his commentary series, “Vernon’s Views” here on WGCU-FM.
In remembrance of Vernon Peeples, the attached audio includes one of his commentaries documenting a particularly memorable day in 1943, when Peeples, at the age of 13, was working as a page in the Florida House.
Funeral services for Vernon Peeples will be held April 15 at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 401 W Hendry Street, Punta Gorda. The public is welcome to attend.
