Jim F. Petty

CWO3 Jim Franklin Petty, USNavy retired, passed away in El Paso, TX, on August 3, 2012, at the age of 95. He was born in Roswell, NM, May 6, 1917, to Joe Rennie and Bertie Mae Kaiser Petty. Jim was raised in Ada, OK, and graduated from Ada High School on May 18, 1934. He was an award winning swimmer, diver and an all around athlete in addition to attaining Eagle Scout with Palms with Troop 4 while growing up in Ada. After high school, Jim drove a cab in and around Ada and had a harrowing story or two to tell about some of his fares. At least he lived to tell the tales to his kids.

He entered the US Navy in Dallas, TX, on July 8, 1938, and was stationed aboard the USS Nevada during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. When he arrived back in the US, he married Bonnie Jeane Seal of Cushing, OK, in Yuma, AZ, while he along with his parents and Bonnie were on their way back to Cushing as the original plan had been to go back to OK to get married. But they didn't make it that far and with his parents as witnesses, Jim and Bonnie started their marriage on May 10, 1942, that would last 65 years until Bonnie's death in 2008. Throughout his Navy career, Jim won many awards for diving, swimming, softball, basketball and football. He was active any any sport that was available to him wherever they were stationed. He was awarded many commendations for his service to our country as well.

After retiring from the Navy in 1958, Jim and Bonnie retired to Northwest Arkansas in the small town of Winslow where he tried his hand at farming. It didn't take long to know that he wasn't cut out for that so he went back to work at what he knew best: electrical systems. He works several years at Baldwin Piano before going to work for the Post Office in Fayetteville, AR.

In 1967, the family moved to El Paso, TX, where Jim accepted a teaching position at Ft. Bliss. He worked there for 10 years and also colllaborated on several instruction manuals before retiring again.

Jim enjoyed stamp collecting throughout his life and had an extensive collection he was very proud of. He enjoyed his family immensely and always had a new joke to tell. He was always humming or singing to himself and would give his kids lots of laughs as he'd get quite loud now and then. He LOVED music and was an avid reader as well.

He was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Bonnie, his sister, Irene Cooper and his brother, Paul Petty.

He is greatly missed by his four children, Linda Bradley (Randy) of Farmington, AR, Jim D. Petty of Springdale, AR, Tom Petty and Mike Petty (Lisa) both of El Paso, TX, as well as six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.

A full military honors burial was held at Fort Bliss National Cemetery on Friday, August 17, 2012. Rest in Peace, Dad.