Dorothy "Dee" Petty

Dorothy (Dee) Petty died peacefully January 28, 2015 at Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs, FL. She was 96 years old. Preceding her in death was her husband, Tom, who died in 1995. Dee was born in Charlotte, NC, September 15, 1918, to C.B. and Carrie Miller. She was raised there and in Warren, Ohio and Youngstown, Ohio, where her father, an inventor holding numerous patents related to sprinkler systems, served as vice-president of Automatic Sprinkler Company. Dee attended Skidmore College and graduated from Purdue University. At Purdue she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority, an affiliation she maintained and treasured her entire life. It was at Purdue that she met and spent time with Amelia Earhart, who resided there as a visiting faculty member. During World War II, she was a traffic manager for Pennsylvania Central Airlines at National (now Reagan National) Airport in Washington, D.C. She also served as a volunteer pilot for the Civil Air Patrol – flying sorties along the Atlantic Coast. Following World War II, she married Tom, then a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy whom she first at Purdue, even though they had lived within blocks of one another as children in Warren. They moved to Chicago, IL, where Tom enjoyed a 44-year career with Peoples Energy Company. After the birth of their first child, they moved to suburban Park Ridge, where the second child was born. In Park Ridge, Dee and Tom were active in numerous local organizations – including the First Methodist Church (she taught Sunday School), University Club, Pan-Hellenic, and Parent-Teachers Association (PTA). They participated in and produced a number of the Annual Variety Show fund-raisers – for which Dee specialized in dancing in the chorus line. However, Dee’s favorite activity was working within the Infant Welfare Society, including serving a term as president of the Chicago Chapter. After their children had grown up, Dee and Tom began taking increasingly long vacations to Sanibel Island, Florida. After Tom’s retirement, they moved to Bonita Bay (first at Wild Pines, then Waterford). Last year Dee moved to Renaissance at the Terraces, having officially retired from 70 years as “homemaker”. In Bonita Springs, Dee found an outlet for her civic energies within the First Presbyterian Church, where she served as Coordinator of Welcoming/Greeters – allowing her to interact with the entire congregation. She was trained as a Stephen Minister and Leader – serving in that capacity at Health Park Hospital for a number of personally very rewarding years. She was also honored to serve as a church Elder. Additionally, she pursued her long-time interest in furthering women’s education and fellowship through membership in PEO. Dee is survived by her sons, Commander Jeff Petty, US Navy (retired) of Alexandria, VA and the Reverend Tom Petty (Linda) of Palatine, IL. Not unexpectedly, she was inordinately proud of her three grandchildren – Carrie (32) of Atlanta, John (29) of Oklahoma City, and William (24) of Minneapolis. A memorial service for Dee will be celebrated on Saturday, May 9th at 1:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs. In lieu of flowers, she would be pleased if gifts were made in her memory to Joanne’s House or First Presbyterian Church. Dee will be interred, next to husband Tom, at Arlington National Cemetery on July 7th at 1:00 PM. Arrangements were handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home.

Dorothy "Dee" Petty

September 15, 1918 - January 28, 2015