Charles Albert “Pete” Gustafson Jr

Charles Albert “Pete” Gustafson Jr., 76, of Portsmouth, passed away Sunday, January 1, 2023, at SOMC. He was born August 28, 1946, in Baltimore, MD to the late Charles A. and Laverne Elaine Goode Gustafson Sr.

Pete was retired from Southern Ohio Medical Center where he worked as a groundskeeper and was named Mercy Hospital Employee of the Year in 1987. Highly regarded for the impeccable job he did maintaining the hospital grounds, he was affectionately called Flower Man, Snow Man and Groundhog by the other hospital employees. Pete had been very involved in his former church and served with the Food Pantry and Bereavement Committee, among other positions. When his boys were young, he worked as a Cub Scout Den Leader.

Pete is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marjorie Lavonne Parker Gustafson. The couple was married at Portsmouth’s First Church of the Nazarene on April 14, 1972. Also surviving are his two sons, Robert “Bob” (Alisha) Gustafson of Sydney and Charles “Tony” Gustafson of Portsmouth; two siblings, Terry (Dorothy) Gustafson of Lexington, KY and Sabra E. McCoy of Portsmouth; two granddaughters, Skiler Gustafson and Amia Raye Gustafson; and a great-granddaughter, Sophia Louise Gustafson.

In addition to his parents, Pete was also preceded in death by a sister, May Louise Gustafson.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 1 PM at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth with Rev. Sam Bradley officiating and interment in Scioto Burial Park.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from noon until the service hour.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Way of Scioto County, 1671 Grant St., Portsmouth, OH 45662.