Joseph Henry Pettelle

About

Seattle University University of Washington

Joseph Pettelle Obituary

Joseph Henry Pettelle

Joseph Henry Pettelle passed away, peacefully, on September 30, 2005, at Harborview Hospital after a fall.
He was born on November 19, 1921, to Cumae R. Whinery Pettelle and Paul S. Pettelle, in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, and moved to Vashon Island, Washington, with his family in 1924. There he grew up with four brothers on a small rural farm. He graduated from Vashon High School in 1940 and served in the U.S. Army in WW II from 1942-45 in the 3rd Infantry.
After his discharge, he returned to the Seattle Area and married his sweetheart, Patricia King, from Cashmere, Washington, in 1946. He attended Seattle University for one year before transferring to the University of Washington where he graduated with a BA in Primary Education. He taught from 1949-1955 in the Sequim School District before moving with his young family to Edmonds, Washington, where he continued to teach in the Shoreline School District. He received his Masters of Education in 1966 and finished his teaching career in Shoreline as principal of Highland Terrace where he retired in 1977.
Joe was a dedicated teacher and administrator for 28 years. He served as a delegate to NEA conventions across the country three times over his career and was honored for his commitment to education with the Principal of the Year award in the Shoreline School District. He was an active member of the Retired Teacher's Association.
Joe and Pat were founding members of the Edmonds Unitarian Church and have been active in both the Edmonds Church as well as the Skagit Unitarian Church when they moved to Mt. Vernon in 1992. Joe also had an active interest in politics and ran for the Washington State Legislature in the Second Congressional District in 1960. There he placed third in a field of 15 Democratic candidates. He was an active member of the Shoreline Historical Museum and the Vashon Heritage Association for many years.
After retirement Joe and Pat enjoyed many years of travel all over the world and especially enjoyed their trips to the deserts of the Southwest and Mexico in their little camper every winter.
Joe was devoted to his family. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Cuma, in 1987; and his three brothers, James, Paul, and Edwin.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Pat; his two daughters, Monica and Hollie; four grandchildren, Jessica, Travis, Cody, and Kayla; and his brothe,r Charlie. He was loved deeply by his family and will be missed by all who knew him.
Memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity, International Headquarters, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, GA 31709.
Private cremation services are planned. A family celebration of Joe's life is planned for a future date.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Herald (Everett) on Oct. 9, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Pettelle

2 Entries

Barbara Berg

October 14, 2005

Taught in the Shoreline District but didn't get to know Joe until I retired, and became an active member of the Shoreline Historical Museum, and Sno-King Retirees. Joe was always a smiling face at our social functions at the museum and at the Sno-King Retirees luncheons and annual picnic. He will be dearly missed. God Bless his family.

Julie Reynolds

October 12, 2005

I knew Mr. Petelle when I was in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade - at Paramount Park Elementary School. This would have been about 35 years ago.

I lived on the border of our school boundary - and it was quite a walk to school. At one busy intersection, we weren't allowed to cross until a school crossing guard came to lead us across. For some reason, it was VERY important to be the first one to be waiting at that intersection. And one day - that important someone was me. But Mr. Petelle was already there. He had been told that children were grouping at that corner earlier and earlier - and there was a just concern for our safety. So he told me it was too early to be there and to go back home and come a little later.

I was mortified! And of course, he had no idea how far I lived - that it would be impossible for me to walk all the way back home and get back to the crossing in time to make it to school.

I arrived back home in tears, and after soothing my tender feelings, my mother drove me to school (where she talked with Mr. Petelle and explained what had happened.)

At the lunch table that day, in front of all my classmates, Mr. Petelle came to me - a lowly 1st or 2nd grader, and apologized . . . saying he hadn't realized how far away I'd lived, and that he wouldn't have sent me back home, had he realized. My mother's favorite part of this story is that I responded by telling my principal, "I forgive you, Mr. Pettelle." But my favorite part of the story is that a school principal apologized publicly to a young child. What a model.

Mr. Petelle was a kind man - and I will always remember him fondly.

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results