Marjory L Pettit

Marjory Lois McGee Pettit, 93, of Alexandria, Virginia, died peacefully in Alexandria on October 7, 2018 after a long illness. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia to Georgia Hutton and Jesse McGee, Marjory was a direct descendant of the first pioneers to cross and settle the land west of the Allegany Mountains in the last half of the 18th century. A proud member of the Greatest Generation and a resident of the Washington area for more than 70 years, she came to the city upon graduation in 1944 from Washington Irving High School, in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Marjory was one of the tens of thousands of young women that David Brinkley described in his book, Washington Goes to War: women from every corner of America who “came on every train and bus…wearing dyed-to-match sweaters and skirts and carrying suitcases,” recruited to assist in the war effort. Marjory was also among the first people to work in the then-new Pentagon Building for the Department of War. A natural beauty, she was also in demand as a model before her marriage in 1948 to Frank W. Pettit, a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in the Pacific theater in World War II. After leaving government service in the early 1950s, Marjory and her husband launched a series of businesses in the Washington area. Beginning with rental apartments and then a motel, they soon focused on the restaurant business, owning and operating several area eateries. The most recent was Alexandria’s Olde Fireside Inn, which was locally renowned for the outstanding quality and preparation of its prime rib and steaks. With her husband, she also founded the Virginia Pump Company in Alexandria. After the death of her husband in 1990, she assumed management of this still-thriving business well into her eighties. In 1992, she reconnected with an old beau, Herbert H. Clark Jr., then of Jackson, NJ. “Herbie,” as she called him, was a Captain in the United States Marines when they dated during the war years when he was stationed at Quantico after returning from action in the South Pacific. They were married in May 1993 and enjoyed many happy years together until his death in 2004. Marjory is survived by her siblings, Joan Carr Kilpatrick of Alexandria, Alford Carr of East Hartford, CT, William Carr of Alexandria, and Marsha McGee Stone of Sweet Springs, WV. She is also survived by 2 nieces, 2 nephews, 8 great-nieces and -nephews, and 5 great-great-nephews and -nieces. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sisters Phyllis (Peggy) McGee Riley and Carroll Carr. Marjory will be long remembered and deeply missed by all who knew her for her gracious manner, her warm friendship, her boundless hospitality, her impeccable appearance, and her generous spirit.