Inc. 1967
William Glenn Pettibon, Ph.D., died of natural causes on January 10, 2016 at Barclay Friends, in West Chester, PA; he was 88. Born in 1927 to Arthur W. and Hazel M. Pettibon, he was raised in Rochester, PA. Bill graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, PA in 1945 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Picked for the Naval Aviation program at Yale University, he attended until the end of WW II then transferred to, and graduated from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA in 1951. At Westminster, he achieved a B.S. in Economics, an M.S. in Counseling and was President of the Sigma Nu fraternity. After a short period working for Westinghouse, Bill began his long career as a professional educator. He was a secondary teacher in the Freedom Township and Beaver Falls School Districts before becoming the Dean of Student Affairs at University of Pittsburgh, Bradford campus. From there, he earned a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Pittsburgh, then served as the Director of Higher Education for Pennsylvania State Education Association, ultimately retiring from the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2002. Bill also served on the Board of Trustees at V.F.M.A. and Board of Directors at Kentucky Electronics, and was a 32nd degree Free and Accepted Mason with Rochester Lodge #229 and a member of the lower Pittsburgh Valley. He was a voracious reader, with a lively intellect and was a lifelong mentor to many. He was adventuresome, enjoyed travel, loved music and dancing, and his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. Bill is predeceased by his wife of sixty-one years, Betty Toner Pettibon and son Tedd Toner Pettibon of Harrisburg, PA, parents Arthur W. and Hazel M. Pettibon of Rochester, PA, and brothers Lee and George Pettibon of Monaca, Pa. He is survived by his brother, LaVerne Pettibon of Rochester, PA, sisters Evelyn Burnham and Frieda Hollihan of Winsted, CT, daughter and son-in-law Tolly Pettibon Sherry and Timothy Sherry of Exton, PA; daughter and son-in-law Tracy Pettibon Carroll and LTC Paul Carroll (US Army, Retired) of Towson, MD; son and daughter-in-law CDR Todd Pettibon (USN) and Audrey Henry Pettibon of Ashburn, VA; and six wonderful grandchildren: Andrew Sherry, Bradley Sherry, Owen Carroll, Shea Carroll, Lindsey Pettibon and Peri Pettibon. Betty and Bill Pettibon have been members of Grace United Methodist Church since 1966. A memorial service will be held on January 30, 2016, at the Jesse Geigle Funeral Home, 2100 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Visitation hours are 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service starting at 3:00 p.m. Donations may be made in memory of Dr. William G. Pettibon to: Barclay Friends, The Caring Fund, 700 North Franklin Street, West Chester, PA. 19380. The Jesse H. Geigle Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. To share online condolences please visit JesseGeigleFuneralHome.com or on Facebook
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