Paul C. Pettijohn

YORKTOWN - Paul C. Pettijohn, 72 , loving husband, father and grandfather, triumphantly crossed over to heaven on Nov. 5, 2009.
His family and friends are praising God for his life and are rejoicing in the knowledge that he is wrapped tightly in the loving arms of Jesus. Paul was born on March 9, 1937, in Waverly, Iowa, and has lived in Yorktown, Va., since 1994.
Paul graduated from the University of Iowa in 1959 as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He served for three years on active duty in the Air Force and three years in the reserves as a Logistics Officer. After becoming a Christian while serving in the Air Force, he dedicated his life to ministering to military members and their families. He received a Masters of Divinity degree from Denver Seminary.
Paul and his wife, Lorraine, have devoted their entire lives to serving the Lord. He served as the Executive Director of Officers' Christian Fellowship for 22 years and led the organization through a period of growth. He cultivated Christian military officers at more than 400 installations worldwide and also helped develop two conference centers for military members and their families.
Paul left Officers' Christian Fellowship to become the National Director and then the International Director of the Military Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, as a full-time missionary. During his career he traveled to more than 60 nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Militaries of the World. Along with his loving wife and helpmate, Lorraine, he was passionate in his mission work resulting in many people coming to know Jesus Christ. Most recently he served as the Associate International Director to Africa. Paul was also a well- respected elder and leader at Peninsula Community Chapel.
Paul was an only child and was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Clarice Pettijohn of Shell Rock, Iowa.
Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, partner and best friend of 43 years, Lorraine Forman Pettijohn of Oklahoma City, Okla.; two beautiful daughters and their husbands, Anne and LTC Rob Borcherding of Fort Riley, Kansas, and Lisa and MAJ Ramey Wilson of Fort Bragg, N.C.; six grandchildren, Katherine, Elizabeth and Meredith Borcherding and Tyler, Seth and Zachary Wilson.
"Paul fought the good fight, Paul finished the race, and Paul kept the faith. Now there is in store for Paul the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to Paul on that day – and not only to Paul, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
A memorial service will be held Monday, Nov. 9, at 3 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church, 235 Harpersville Road, Newport News, VA 23601 to be followed by a reception. Funeral services are being provided by Peninsula Funeral Home at www.peninsulafuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Paul's memory to Paul Pettijohn Memorial c/o Military Ministry at P.O. Box 120124, Newport News, VA 23612, (www.militaryminstry.org) or Peninsula Community Chapel at www.peninsulacommunitychapel.com. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.