Obituary of Herbert M. Petitt

On Sunday, October 7, 2018, Herbert Morris Petitt, loving husband, father, and brother passed away, surrounded by family, at the age of 81. Herb was born in April 14, 1937 in Alexandria, VA to Herbert A. and Ruby (Pearson) Petitt. He married Laura (Stouffer) in 1966 and they had 52 wonderful years of marriage. They raised one daughter, Jennifer. 

Herb had a long and storied airline career. He began with Capital Airlines in 1956 throwing bags onto airplanes, as he liked to say. After 2 years of service in the United States Army, much of it in Mannheim, Germany, he returned to airline work in 1962 with United Airlines, which had acquired Capital in the intervening years. United took Herb and his family on adventures to Long Island, NY, Chicago, IL, and Cleveland, OH before returning them to his beloved Virginia in 1988. In that time he moved from the ramp, to crew scheduling, and multiple roles within the Flight Office. He also received a Bachelor of Science degree from Adelphi University in 1982. He retired from United Airlines in 2002.

Herb was a quiet and private man, who never had an unkind word to say about anyone. He loved a fall drive on Skyline Drive, working on cars (he could fix anything), and reading mystery novels. He also loved spinning a good yarn for small children, who were drawn to his kind and quiet nature. If you were lucky, maybe you got to hear him play a tune on his harmonica.

Herb was preceded in death by his father, Herbert, and mother, Ruby, and his stepfather, Richard H. McKay. He is survived by his wife Laura; his daughter Jennifer, his son-in-law, Colin Mills, and his granddaughter, Leslie Mills; his sister Martha (McKay) and her husband Joel Smith; his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Ernest and Karen Stouffer, Joseph and Debbie Stouffer, Carol and Don Sullenberger and Norma Jean Baker; and numerous nephews and nieces, great nephews and nieces, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 9, 2018 at Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Rd, Herndon, VA at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Capital Caring (hospice) or Floris United Methodist Church.