Eugene "Gene" Pettibone

Eugene “Gene” Pettibone, 92, of Decatur, Indiana passed away Tuesday morning, June 11, 2019, at Adams Woodcrest.

He was born on May 12, 1927 in Portland, Indiana to Lester Pettibone and Lorena (Myers) Pettibone. He was united in marriage to Betty Baker on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1967 in Rochester, Indiana and she preceded him in death on November 20, 2013.

Gene served his country in the United States Naval Reserve during the Korean Conflict.

He was a member of St. Albans Episcopal Church in Fort Wayne where he has served as usher. Gene also held memberships in the American Veterans Post #48 of Tiffin, Ohio; Decatur Lodge #571 F&AM; and Scottish Rite of Fort Wayne.

Gene was employed for 18 years as a maintenance supervisor at Fruehauf until his retirement in 1979.

He was an avid sports fan and loved to watch the Green Bay Packers, Notre Dame University & the New York Yankees. He owned and raced midget race cars for 45 years & was also a licensed pilot for 50 years. Gene was a coach for Little League teams in Decatur and was on the undefeated 1944 Decatur High School football team.

Gene is survived by his son, Gary L. (Carolyn) Pettibone of Fort Wayne; daughter, Donna L. (Norval) Lehman of Berne; son, Michael E. (Carol) Pettibone of Bluffton; daughter, Angela S. Wiegman of Aurora Colorado; daughter, Virginia L. (Tony) Smith of Fort Wayne; and son, Jeffrey A. (Connie) Chambers of Indianapolis; 16 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by a son, Daniel Pettibone on April 27, 2005.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2019, at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home – Decatur with burial following at Decatur Cemetery.

Family and friends will be received from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2019, at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home – Decatur with a Masonic Service to be held at 1:45 p.m.

Preferred memorials are to be made to Barkley/Pettibone Scholarship through Adams County Community Foundation.