Gilbert Neal Petitt

Gilbert Neal Petitt was born on July 20, 1956, in Seattle, Washington, to the union of Nannie Beatrice Carter and Alfred Neal Petitt. On September 22, 2025, Gilbert peacefully went home to be with the Lord.

From an early age, Gilbert was rooted in faith. He was baptized as a child and remained a dedicated member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington, where he served faithfully on both the Finance and Trustee ministries.

A proud product of Seattle Public Schools, Gilbert attended Madrona Elementary, Meany and Jane Addams Junior High Schools, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1974. He pursued higher education at Central Washington University (CWU), earning a degree in Business Administration and Finance. While at CWU, he served as Black Student Union President, leading the effort to reinstate funding for student activities. In 2004, his commitment to service and leadership led him to complete an Executive Master’s degree in Not-For-Profit Leadership from Seattle University.

In October 1980, Gilbert embarked on a remarkable 39-year career at The Boeing Company. Throughout his career, he demonstrated exceptional leadership across multiple divisions of the company, including Commercial Airplanes, Defense Space & Security, Shared Services Group, and Corporate Offices. Within both Defense & Commercial divisions, Gilbert worked as a financial auditor, where he was responsible for overseeing and ensuring the integrity of financial operations and compliance. He was deeply involved in community and corporate engagement initiatives, representing Boeing on numerous boards and advisory councils. Notably, he served as President of the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound, helping to distribute approximately $20 million in charitable contributions across Washington State. Prior to his retirement on June 5, 2020, Gilbert led supplier diversity efforts, championing equitable contracting opportunities for small and diverse businesses worldwide.

Gilbert married the love of his life, Grace Leslyn Jones. Together, they raised two sons, Marcus and Brandon, who were the pride and joy of his life. Gilbert loved spending time with his family, taking road trips, and celebrating special moments with loved ones across the country.

Gilbert was a man of many passions. He was a proud member of Roosevelt High School’s 1972–73 state championship basketball team and continued playing well into adulthood. He and Leslyn enjoyed bowling in community leagues, and he was an enthusiastic supporter of the Seattle Seahawks—always hopeful for the return of the Seattle Supersonics. He was a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and remained active in civic and mentoring initiatives throughout his life.

A dedicated servant-leader, Gilbert gave back to his community in profound ways. He served on the Rainier Community Center Advisory Board and co-founded Project Compute, a nationally recognized youth computer training program, in partnership with his longtime friend and Boeing colleague, Mr. Anthony Williams. For this work, Gilbert received the prestigious 1995 President’s Service Award from the Points of Light Foundation, presented by President Bill Clinton at the White House. He also advised youth in the Summer Youth Program at Seattle Emergency Housing Services, empowering young people to develop entrepreneurial skills and confidence.

Gilbert was a successful graduate of the Leadership Tomorrow program and later served as a member of the Leadership Tomorrow Curriculum Committee. He lent his expertise to countless organizations dedicated to education, equity, and opportunity.

Gilbert is preceded in death by his parents, Nannie and Alfred Petitt. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 37 years, Grace Leslyn Jones-Petitt of Seattle, WA; sons Marcus N. Petitt (Los Angeles, CA) and Brandon M. Petitt (Portland, OR); sister Kathleen M. Wilcox of Seattle, WA; nephews Louis C. Marshall (Honolulu, HI), William J. Poole (Renton, WA), and Nathaniel J. Wilcox (Atlanta, GA); and a host of extended family and cherished friends.

Gilbert’s legacy is one of faith, family, service, and a deep commitment to uplifting others. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, mentor, and friend whose impact will be felt for generations to come.