Elmer Smith Pettit (1930-2014)

Elmer Smith Pettit was born on 6 October 1930 in New Jersey. He died on 13 May 2014 in Woodstown, Salem, New Jersey. He is buried in Woodstown Friends Burial Ground in Woodstown, Salem, New Jersey.

Elmer Smith Pettit's headstone

Obituary, South Jersey Times, 18 May 2014
Elmer S.Pettit, age 83 of Pilesgrove, died Tuesday, May 13, 2014 in Friends Village in Woodstown. Born in Salem, he was the son of the late Frank & Frances (Coles) Pettit. Elmer graduated from George School in Newtown, PA, and he was a farmer for most of his life, expanding the home farm into Clovervale Dairy Farms. Through his farm, he provided an introduction into the world of work and the value of hard work for countless numbers of high school students over the years. No matter how busy it was on the farm, Elmer made time for Thursday night bowling on the Friends Team. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, Vera, and they made several cross-country trips, including one via motorcycle. In their early retirement years, they enjoyed winters in Florida and playing & working on a golf course. Elmer was a member of the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Board of Education from 1972 to 1977. He also served on the Pilesgrove Township Committee from 1977 to 1985, where he was one of the initial supporters of the Right to Farm bill. He was a member of the Salem County Agriculture Development Board, a member of the Board of Directors for the Farm Credit Association from 1977 to 1983, and served as Chairman of the Board for the Federal Land Bank Association from 1982 to 1983. He is survived by his daughters and son, Gwen Pettit and husband, Lee Czajkowski of Gunnison, CO, Phil and Cheri Pettit of Woodstown, and Debbie and Mike Driscoll of Forest, VA. He is also survived by five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Friends and family are invited to an open memorial service in the Quaker tradition at 2 PM on Saturday, June 7th in the Woodstown Friends Meetinghouse, 104 N. Main St., Woodstown. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Friends Village, 1 Friends Dr., Woodstown, NJ 08098, or to Woodstown Friends Meeting, 104 N. Main St., Woodstown, NJ 08098. Arrangements are by, H.T. Layton Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

PARENTS
Frank C. Pettit
Frances Coles

SPOUSE
Vera Mae Madara

CHILDREN
Debbie Pettit
Gwen Pettit
Phil Pettit

SOURCES

• 1940 census, Pilesgrove Township, Salem, New Jersey
• South Jersey Times (New Jersey) 18 May 2014