Delmar Pettigrew

In a few short words, how does one describe a man who has touched many lives? Delmar Monroe Pettigrew, 92, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday, April 10, 2016. Delmar, also recognized as Pill, was well-known for his integrity, energy, decisiveness and competitive spirit. He will be remembered for his dedication to his family, friends and community.

Born in Cisco, Texas and raised in Fort Worth, Delmar was the youngest of five children. In 1941 he joined the United States Army and served the country as a Drill Sergeant training infantrymen. Toward the end of WWII he was transferred to the Army of the Pacific. After the surrender of Japan, Delmar served in the Occupation Army and was sent to Japan. In 1946 he was honorably discharged.

While in the Army Delmar trained and befriended Leroy Walker who invited Delmar home to meet his family. After the furlough Delmar's life was changed forever when he met the love of his life, Edna Earle Walker, Leroy's little sister. Six months later Delmar and Edna Earle were married on August 16, 1946 in a double-ring ceremony, with Edna Earle's older sister, Tuda and her groom, Wallace Stevens. The young couple moved to Old Ocean, Texas where Delmar started a milk distribution business. Pettigrew Distributing Company operated over six decades as the dominant milk supplier in Brazoria, Matagorda, Wharton and Jackson Counties.

Delmar was proud of the Sweeny Community and was dedicated to the beautification of the small town. Through Delmar's tireless efforts, he was elected to the Sweeny School Board and was a leader in constructing the Sweeny High School football stadium that serves the district today. For fifty years, Delmar served as the Track Clerk for the Sweeny Relays, served as the Sunday School Superintendent at the First Baptist Church of Old Ocean, and served as President of the Sweeny Chamber of Commerce. Delmar was the charter member of the Sweeny Rotary Club and served as the Rotarian President. He was the founder of the Sweeny Little League where he obtained the funding for the complex, and along with many dedicated volunteers; they designed and built the Bennett-Outlar Little League Baseball Park. Serving as a Little League Manager, Coach, Secretary, Treasurer, Player Agent, Umpire, Vice-President, and President of the park, Edna Earle will say, "Little League Baseball was Pill's first love." As an appointed position, Delmar was the District 18 Administrator for the State of Texas; he served as the State Tournament Director, and was involved with the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania. After fifty years of volunteering, Delmar retired from Little League. To commemorate his volunteer service, he received proclamation letters from President George W. Bush, Vice President Cheney, Texas Governor Rick Perry, and numerous members of Congress. Delmar was named "Man of the Year" by the Sweeny Chamber Commerce, and "Businessman of the Year" by the Sweeny Rotary Club.

Delmar served as the Sweeny Cemetery Association President from 1982 to the present, and recently was instrumental in restoring the historical tombstones in the cemetery. Because of Delmar's compassionate nature, he anonymously provided financial support to numerous individuals and charities; touching the lives of many people.
Delmar loved to travel with his friends and family. He and Edna Earle traveled extensively across America from Florida to Alaska, California to Maine. They traveled across Canada, Mexico, Europe and Russia. They traveled to England several times to visit their friends and fellow Rotarians, Tony and Eileen French. They sailed on many cruises including the Caribbean, Mediterranean, North Sea, Pacific Coast and Panama Canal. As an avid snow skier, Delmar enjoyed skiing in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California and Austria. For 25 years, he led the Pettigrew Ski Group to Crested Butte, Colorado for a week-long ski vacation.

If you have ever visited the Pettigrew home, you know Pill loved sitting around the kitchen table for hours-on-end telling stories and playing dominoes. He deeply loved his family and friends! Delmar is survived by his wife of 70 years, Edna Earle Pettigrew; daughter-in-law, Shirley Pettigrew of Sugar Land, Texas; daughter-in-law, Eileen Pettigrew of Sweeny, Texas; son-in-law, Kirk Long and daughter, Marilyn Long of Richmond, Texas; son-in-law, Tom Ennis and daughter, Dr. Tammy Ennis of Oxnard, California; son, Tim Pettigrew and daughter-in-law, Anna Pettigrew of Sweeny, Texas; his foreign exchange daughter, Helen French and her husband, Robin Piggott from England; thirteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and abundance of friends. Delmar was preceded in death by two sons, Rick Pettigrew and Les Pettigrew, and a grandson, Richard Pettigrew.

Public visitation will be held at Baker Funeral Home in West Columbia between 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, 2016. The funeral service will be at the New Shores Baptist Church of Sweeny, Thursday, April 14th at 3:00 p.m., followed by a Military burial, Sweeny Cemetery. As a donation, condolences are appreciated to the Pettigrew Scholarship Fund or the Sweeny Rotary Club, sent to P.O. Box 503, Old Ocean, Texas 77463.

To continue Delmar's passion of making a difference for others, he chose to engrave John 3:16 on his tombstone to be shared with all, "For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten son. For whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." Delmar Pettigrew was a Christian man of honor, who touched many lives.

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