Born on July 25, 1937, in Olean, he was a son of Donald and Doris Keller Pettit. On February 11, 1957, in High Point, North Carolina he married the former Mona Walden and together they shared 66 years of marriage until her passing on October 20, 2023.

Bob was a graduate of Rushford Central Schools Class of 1955, where he was a star soccer and basketball player.

He had worked for KR Wilson in Arcade, Stroehmann’s Bakery in Olean and then worked two full time jobs to provide for his family. He worked days at the former Guernsey Farms which became Guilford Dairies and then Meadow Brook Dairy as the Plant Manager. He worked nights for Cuba Cheese as the night foreman. He retired from Meadow Brook in 1994.

Bob loved golfing, snowmobiling, bowling, mowing lawns, but most of all spending time with his family cherishing every moment. He was a dedicated fan of Notre Dame Football, the Buffalo Bills, and St. Bonaventure Basketball.

He is survived by his children, Diane (Rick) Bunk of Cuba, Mark (Dianne) Pettit of Erie, PA, Vickie Pettit of Cuba and Amy (Sam) Drake of Bergen; his grandchildren, Josh (Colleen), Justin (Marinda), Chad (Amanda), Jarid (Tiffany), Matt, and Adam; his great grandchildren, Emma, Hannah, Bryce, Aria, Lydia, and Parker; 2 brothers, James E. (Kathleen) Pettit of Cuba and David (Ellyn) Pettit of Mallory; a sister, Linda Rusk of LeRoy, NY; a sister-in-law, Patricia Pettit of Fillmore; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife he was predeceased by 3 Brothers Paul Pettit, Alton Pettit, and Willis Pettit whom died in infancy.

Friends will be at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba, on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 from 4-8 P.M., where funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. Deacon Frank Pasquale, will officiate.

Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Cuba, New York.

The family requests memorials be made to the Cuba Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility for patient activities.