Montpelier, VT Louis P. Peck, 89, died Thursday May 8 at Woodridge Nursing Home. Born on December 24, 1918, Louis was a lifelong resident of Montpelier and could trace his Montpelier roots back over 200 years. He graduated from St. Michael's High School in 1937. After a bout with polio, Louis attended the University of Notre Dame. World War II interrupted his education. Louis served as a captain in the parachute troops of the 17th Airborne Division and was in the army from 1941 through 1947. In March of 1945, Louis and the rest of his division were sent to an airfield near Paris. They were loaded aboard troop-carrying gliders. The gliders landed in the middle of a field behind enemy lines in Germany. His leg was shattered by enemy fire. Unable to move Louis was hit by another glider. He spent two and a half years in hospitals overseas and in the United States. Before the war, Louis fenced sabre and lettered in fencing at Notre Dame. When he eventually returned to Notre Dame he acted as coach to the freshman fencing team. He graduated from Notre Dame Law in 1951. He came back to Vermont and entered private practice, then served on the staff of Attorney General Frederick Reed, where he laid the legal groundwork for Vermont's Interstate Highway system. He served as Chief Assistant Attorney General from 1957 to 1981 when Governor Richard Snelling appointed him an Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. Justice Peck successfully fought the state law on mandatory retirement. The New York based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed him to remain on the bench. He retired shortly after the ruling. He was a member of the Montpelier Theatre Guild and Actor's Equity. Louis also appeared in numerous productions at The Stowe Playhouse and Goddard College. Although he wrote and directed several plays for the Guild and St. Michael's High School, he preferred to act. He was cast in over a hundred plays. It was important to Louis that he give generously both of his time and his money. He is survived by his daughters Katherine, Barbara and Nancy and by numerous nephews and nieces. He was the son of William N. and Mary A. Peck. He is preceded in death by his wife Iride (Falacci) and his twin brother John. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held 12:00 noon on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at the Vermont College Chapel with a reception to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to Woodbury College, c/o Breck Knaust, 660 Elm Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, Vermont Historical Society, 60 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 or to the VFW Post 792, 1 Pioneer Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 or www.vfw.org.