Ralph Edward Pettit

Ralph Edward Pettit, 90, of North Vernon, passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2018,  at The Waters of Clifty Falls in Madison.

Born August 22, 1927, in Jefferson County, He was the son of Harry and Ruth A. Gunnion Pettit. He married Helen Ruth Griffin on November 12, 1948, at Graham Baptist Church in Jennings County, Indiana.

Mr. Pettit was a 1945 graduate of Central High School in Jefferson County and served in the U.S. Army from January 9, 1946 – July 9, 1947 during World War II. He was a farmer and worked as a manager of Co-op Fertilizer Plant, Route Manager for Farm Bureau and worked for Cummins Engine Company for five years. Mr. Pettit help co-found the San Jacinto Community Center. He was a 70 plus year member of Graham Baptist Church in Butlerville where he had served as deacon, Sunday school superintendent and Sunday school teacher, he was a 4-H leader for the Bigger Boosters from 1969-1972, a former president and member of the Jennings County Fair Board, and was active in the Jennings County Republican Party where he served as a Bigger Township precinct committeeman. Mr. Pettit enjoyed woodworking and church work.

Survivors include two sons, Harry "Ed" Pettit of Vernon and William "Bill" Pettit of Butlerville; two daughters, Karen Ruth (Robert) Alexander and Helen Jeanne Stainbrook both of North Vernon; brothers, Robert Pettit of Elizabethtown and Dale (Cecelia) Pettit of North Vernon; sister, Marilyn Estell of Columbus;  sister-in-law, Faye  Pettit of Columbus;  Dennis (Farrial) Williams of Greenwood; grandchildren, Amy (Thomas) Abrell, Ed Pettit II,  Jerianne (Lynn III) Bateman, Nakia “Nikki” Stephens,  Chris Pettit and Michael Alexander all of North Vernon, Joseph (Kia)  Pettit of San Jacinto, James (Carey) Alexander of Alabama, Eric (Chelsea) Pettit of Georgia, Ryan Martin of Columbus, Shay (Scott) Speer of Seymour, Andrea Campfield of Versailles, Kentucky, and Bobby Alexander of Connecticut; twenty great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and a brother, John Pettit.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Services in North Vernon with the Rev. Tom Mattingly officiating. Family and Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday, February 10, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be in the Graham Baptist Cemetery in Butlerville with military graveside rites.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Graham Baptist Church or Our Hospice of Jennings County.

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