Obituary of Robert Petty

Robert Joseph Petty, age 86, passed away Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Southern Hills Nursing Center. He was born February 23, 1923, in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was the devoted only son of Robert D. Petty (Co-Founder of Rowan &amp; Petty Fine Foods) and Myrtle Hayes Petty. He graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1941, where he made many lifelong friends, some of whom formed the "Good Ol' Boys &amp; Gals Luncheon Group." The group met once a month at the Green Onion, an event he rarely missed and looked forward to until his health prevented him from attending. After graduation, he concentrated on ice hockey and played for a semi-pro team sponsored by Boeing Aircraft. In 1942, he entered the Army Air Corp and served as a 1st Lieutenant with the Eighth Air Force in World War II as a bombardier-navigator flying B-17's in Europe as a member of the famous 401st Bomb Group "Bowman's Bombers," based in Deenethorpe, England. He participated in bombing missions to Berlin, Leipzig and Schweinfurt and was awarded the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters. On May 8,1945, he married Leatrice Rowan and worked in the food industry until he was recalled to service in 1953 to participate in forming the USAF Strategic Air Command and served as bombardier-navigator flying B-47s based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona until 1957. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Major. He returned to Tulsa with his family in 1957 to become a partner in Rowan &amp; Petty (later Petty's Fine Foods) and served as President from 1969-1984. He developed a successful niche in the specialty food business and was a respected leader in the food industry. He served as Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of Oklahoma Retail Grocers Association and Affiliated Food Stores Inc. and was also Chairman of Oklahoma Food Industry Coupon Redemption Service. He was also the past President of Tulsa Executives Association, Tulsa Men's Club, and was a member of Kiwanis and First Presbyterian Church. He raised four grateful children to whom he passed on his incredible work ethic and love for sports, which remained a life-long passion for him. He never missed an opportunity to cheer for his beloved Tulsa Oilers and could be found sitting attentively behind the dugout or penalty box, depending on the season. He was a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tulsa Oilers Baseball Club and co-founded the Tulsa Minor Hockey Association in 1965, serving as its President and as a Board Member. He coached for 10 seasons, leading the Utica National Bank high school team to two consecutive league championships in 1971 and 1972, creating wonderful memories for his sons and other boys who were lucky enough to be under his tutelage. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Justin Bradley Hahn, of Oklahoma City, and he is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Leatrice R. Petty of Tulsa, and his four children: Scott Petty and wife, Maureen, of Tulsa; Dianne Hahn and husband, Jimmy, of Oklahoma City; Bradley J. Petty of Tulsa; and Michael R. Petty and wife, Linda, of Leawood, KS. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bob will lie in state Wednesday with the family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m. and his funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, both at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home Chapel. He will be laid to rest in the Memorial Park Cemetery Mausoleum. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers contributions made be made in Bob's name to the First Presbyterian Church, 709 S. Boston, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119 or simply click here: <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'helvetica','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'copperplate gothic bold'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: en-us; mso-fareast-language: en-us; mso-bidi-language: ar-sa"><a href="http://www.epartnersingiving.com/bobpetty" target="http://www.epartnersingiving.com/bobpetty"><span style="color: #721819">http://www.epartnersingiving.com/bobpetty</span></a> </span></span> Ninde Brookside www.ninde.com 918.742.5556 <p></p>