Peter Champion born July 5th, 1952, died Monday Oct 6th, 2025, near his home in Silverton Oregon. He was surrounded by his family: wife Susan Champion, daughters Laura Antonson and Tara Champion, and sister Michele Champion.

Peter Oliver Champion was born in New York City to Hertha Schweinburg Champion and Jean-Rene Champion. He moved to Culver City, CA with his mother Hertha, grandmother Laura, and younger sister Michele when he was a child. He was an honor student at Culver City High School and participated in the school's Thespian club as well as playing flute and piccolo in the orchestra and marching band. At this young age, he began to develop a sense of justice for those less fortunate and registered as a Conscientious Objector during the Vietnam War. After high school, Peter attended Brown University where he met his wife Susan, at a freshman mixer. They fell in love and were married in 1973. During their time at school, they were both active in student demonstrations protesting the Vietnam War. In 1974 Peter graduated after earning his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. After University, they eventually moved to Washington state and became a family of three in 1981 and a family of four in 1983 with the addition of their daughters Laura and Tara. The family continued to grow with many pets throughout the years.

Peter started his career in the restaurant industry which included time as a chef and restaurant manager, before following a calling to become a priest in the Episcopal Church. He studied Parish Ministry at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL and graduated with an MDiv in 1989. Following seminary and ordination, he served in churches in Batavia NY, Klamath Falls OR, Kailua HI, and Clayton CA. In his retirement, Peter and Susan moved to Silverton OR where he volunteered as a supply priest for St. Edward's in Silverton and St. Mary's in Woodburn. While at the pulpit, he often spoke passionately about the values of social and racial justice.

Peter was very active in recovery communities for multiple decades in the last half of his life. Peter and Susan continued their political activism work throughout his life, marching and raising their voices on issues of racial justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, equal rights for undocumented workers, and environmental causes around the world. Peter loved reading, art, and culture with some favorites being opera and classical music. He and Susan traveled the world together, often with their daughters in tow, and spent long periods of time in Europe and Central America. The whole family loved hiking and camping and going on road trips. Peter and Susan's last trip was just this last summer when they spent a month in Alaska visiting with his sister Michele and her husband George Donart.

Peter is survived by wife Susan, daughters Laura Antonson (Dan) and Tara Champion (Chris), sister Michele Champion (George), half-brothers David and Marc Champion (Pat), and his four grandchildren: Jennifer, Thomas, Allen and Hertha. He leaves hundreds of personal connections and communities behind that he supported, and that supported him. Peter is remembered for his keen intellect, sharp dry wit, and total support of a fair and just world for all of God's creatures on Earth.

A Celebration of Peter's life will be on November 1st, 2025, at 10am with a lunch reception. St. Edward's Episcopal Church 211 W. Center St. Silverton OR 97381 In lieu of flowers please donate in Peter's name to OPB public radio, the ACLU or the Sierra Club.