John O. Pettigrew

Clyde - John Olin Pettigrew, 78, of Medford Hills in Clyde, passed away on Monday, August 25. A native of Jackson, Georgia, John was the son of the J. Olin Pettigrew and Bell Smith Pettigrew. He graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1953 from Jackson High School. He earned his Mechanical Engineering Degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1957. He served as a Naval Officer in the US Navy. He was Engineering Officer on the Nespleen which included Operation Deep Freeze 3 and 4 Supply Missions to Antarctica. He moved to Waynesville in 1959 to work at Dayco in Engineering where he served for 34 years, retiring in 1993. While at Dayco, John was a member of the Dayco Inventors Club because of inventions he created to produce the finest products for the company. He also worked with Western North Carolina Air Pollution Control Agency until his second retirement. John was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Waynesville serving as deacon, Sunday School teacher, and various committees since 1961. John is survived by his wife, Judy Ramsey Pettigrew, two daughters, Melissa Susan Pettigrew of Athens, Georgia; Melinda Lee Muire, son-in-law, Edward Muire; granddaughters, Madison Leigh Muire, Emily Ann Muire, and Piper Elizabeth Muire of Salisbury, North Carolina; John's sister, Ann Wade and brother-in-law, Euel Wade of Lakemont, Georgia; and his brother, Jimmy Pettigrew and sister-in-law, Judy Pettigrew of Forsyth, Georgia; nephews, Jim and Donna Wade of Cumming, Georgia, Bill and Suzanne Wade of Clarkesville, Georgia, Justin Pettigrew of Atlanta and his aunt, Ermine Lane, of Griffin, Georgia. John was known for his storytelling, famous fishing trips, and his love of family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29 in the Sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Dr. Robert Prince and Reverend Dr. James M. Ramsey officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. prior to services in the church chapel. Private graveside services will be held at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Waynesville Sanctuary Renovation Fund, P.O. Box 690, Waynesville, NC 28786.