Roland Pettit Jr.

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Roland Pettit Jr., 85, of Villa Ridge, formerly of Tamms, Ill., passed away Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born March 13, 1925, in Sandusky, Ill., son of the late Roland and Anna Eickelman Pettit.

Mr. Pettit was of the Methodist belief and had served as a Sunday school superintendent.

He was an Air Force veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict, serving with Western Pacific Air Offensive flying in a 505th Bomb Group B-29 as a tail gunner with 19 missions over Japan.

Roland was a retired switchman for GMO Railroad.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Naomi Thomas; and a brother, Leo Pettit.

Survivors include his wife, Irene Smith Pettit of Villa Ridge; a daughter, Sandy Newell of Villa Ridge; two granddaughters, Gina (Mike) Hileman of Olmsted, Ill., Shelly Newell of Villa Ridge; a great-grandson, Tyler Hileman; two sisters, Jeanette Chaudoin of Tamms, Ill., Dot (Gene) Heater of Livonia, Mich.; a brother, John (Laneta) Pettit of Alton, Ill.; a brother-in-law, Melvin (Dorothy) Smith of Tamms; several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Gene Hart officiating. Interment will be in Mound City National Cemetery in Mound City, Ill., with full military honors by Illinois National Guard Honor Detail and area veterans.