Arthur P. "Pete" Karcher, Jr.

Arthur P. “Pete” Karcher Jr., 79, of Destin, Florida, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.   Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Pete was born in Dobbs Ferry, New York on May 28, 1939 to Arthur P. Karcher Sr. and Evangeline Pinard Karcher and grew up in Ardsley, New York.  After serving in the U.S. Navy, he moved to Merced, California where he met and married Shirley Ann Barr.  Following a successful career in computer related fields, which brought him to Virginia, he moved to Destin and transitioned to real estate.  Pete was very involved in the commercial development of Destin and was past Director of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, a charter member of the Investment Society and the Commercial Investment Brokers Network, and served on the Code Enforcement Board for the City of Destin for 6 years. He was an entrepreneur, a teacher and mentor to many individuals.  Renowned for his skills in the kitchen, Pete loved to share his passion for food and wine with his friends and family.  He is survived by his sister Joan, Shirley, his wife of 55 years, his five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  A memorial service will be held December 10, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Davis Watkins Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.