David Danson Pettigrew

David Danson Pettigrew, beloved father and grandfather, brother and uncle, passed away Thursday morning January 26, 2011, at 6 am at Greenville Hospital at the age of 96 after a short illness. He had been a resident of Rolling Fields for approximately a year, enjoying a good quality of life, despite his physical limitations.
David was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 29, 1915. He married Rosalind Johanna Klemp on October 18, 1941. David was an employee of Delta Manufacturing Company in Milwaukee; he was transferred to Rockwell Manufacturing Company corporate office in Pittsburgh, PA, as Assistant Chief Engineer in 1953. He is responsible for 15 patents under Rockwell and two others after his retirement. His most notable patent was a drill-head with a fail-safe stop that was later used to safely machine plutonium without danger of explosion.
David lived in the Canadohta Lake area after his retirement where he attended the Christian Missionary Alliance church in Union City. He moved to Linesville, PA, in 2009, living at the Palfund retirement community until December 2010, when he was moved to Rolling Fields. During this time he attended Trinity United Methodist church at Conneaut Lake.
He was a loving father and grandfather to the family who survive him, his daughters, Sharon Gibbs of Conneaut Lake, Laurie Kerr of Union City and David Pettigrew, Jr, of Dayton, Ohio; his grandchildren, Kelly Kerr, Nicholas Kerr, Erica Pettigrew and Marc Pettigrew; his great-grandchildren, Kristiana, Dominic and Kaleb; his brother, John (Jack) Pettigrew and wife Barbara of Cincinnati, Ohio; his nephews and nieces, Todd Pettigrew, Craig Pettigrew, Dale Pettigrew, Bonnie Luedtke, Marlene Hunt, Linda ODonnell, Patty Varney and Kathy Paul.
He is preceded in death by his father, John LeRoy (1940), his mother, May Bloor (1969), his wife, Rosalind on May 17, 1997; his brother Roger (1986), his sister, Ruth Jane (2005) and a nephew, Jim Pettigrew (1998).
Family and friends are invited to call on Sunday from 2-5 at Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 404 Chestnut St., Meadville.
Funeral Services will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 240 N. 3rd St., Conneaut Lake, PA, at 11:00 AM on Monday, January 30th, with Pastor Jay Sterling and Pastor Dave Brumagin officiating.
Interment will take place in Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City.
Memorial contributions may be made to Keystone Blind Assoc., 1230 Stambaugh Ave., Sharon, PA 16146.
Share your condolences at www.miznerfuneralhome.com