Robert Joseph Pettitt

Bob was born June 19, 1936 in Elkland, Missouri, the 8th child of Ona Marie (nee Young) and Rev. George Thomas Pettitt. He moved with his family to Lindsay, CA in 1939 as part of the Dust Bowl migration during the Great Depression. After a childhood spent as a migrant farm laborer throughout the Central Valley, Bob was a 1954 graduate of Lindsay High School.

While in high school, Bob became interested in radio transmission, earning an amateur radio license (W6PRA) at the age of 14. Bob credited the events of his life to that early interest in electronics, and was always grateful to the teachers and mentors who helped him pursue his dreams. He worked nights at the Mt. Whitney Hotel in Lindsay so he could continue his education, earning an Associate degree in 1956 from the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA. He furthered his education by earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley in 1958. He funded this education with summer internships at Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City.

Upon graduating from Cal, Bob moved to Los Angeles and took a full time position at Hughes. He was grateful throughout his life to Howard Hughes, who enabled Bob to continue his education through a Hughes Fellowship. Bob earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 1960.

Among Bob's many projects at Hughes Aircraft, he designed the timing mechanism for the landing gear of Surveyor I, the first unmanned lunar lander. Throughout his life, Bob was proud that a kid from Lindsay had a design on the moon. He also worked on the design of Telstar 1, the world's first active communications satellite.

As a result of his work at Hughes, Bob was able to take a position with the Public Health Service at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where he worked on several projects including the design of the first cardiac care unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Concern for his sister's eyesight led Bob to pursue a career in ophthalmology. He completed his medical degree at the University of Southern California in 1965. He served on the faculty of USC School of Medicine while working in the ophthalmology clinic at LA County General Hospital. It was at the clinic that he met Mary Courtright, whom he married in 1974.

Bob moved to San Bernardino in 1973, where he joined the staff of St. Bernardine Hospital and opened an ophthalmology practice. Remembering his roots and wanting to give back to his community, he was also on the staff of San Bernardino County Hospital. Bob enjoyed his practice, particularly getting to know each of his patients.

In 1979, Bob and Mary moved to Highland, where they raised their two children, Amanda and Robert. Bob continued to enjoy his lifelong passion for amateur radio and was a member of the Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club. His love of amateur radio inspired his family to also become licensed hams, A lover of dogs since childhood, Bob also found great joy in his pets, He was adept at rescuing stray dogs and brought home several new family members to spoil. He retired from his medical practice in 1992, While he greatly missed his conversations with his patients, he enjoyed the extra time he had with his family. He also developed an interest in plant propagation and was always eager to show off his new strains of poppies with his children and grandchildren.

He is mourned by his wife, Mary; two children, Amanda (Alan) and Robert (Misty); two grandchildren, Hannah and Andrew; and many nieces and nephews, 73, Dad - we will forever hold you in our hearts.

A funeral service for Robert will be held Monday, August 5, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Mt. View Mortuary & Cemetery, 570 East Highland Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92404, followed by a graveside service from 10:15 AM to 10:45 PM.