Gene L. Pettit, 89, of New Carlisle, formerly of Xenia, passed away Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at his residence. He was born February 18, 1928, in Elizabeth, West Virginia, the son of Cecil and Eloise Gibson Pettit. He was a member of Memorial United Presbyterian Church, and was a veteran of the United States Army. He was a 50 Year member of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, A. F. & A.M., South Charleston Lodge # 168, the Ancient & Accepted Order Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, SJ, USA, 32nd Degree, and the Beni Kedem Shriners. He retired from Union Carbide as a mechanical engineer and was formerly employed at VII. He is survived by his wife, Sara (Harshbarger) Pettit, whom he married July 20, 1956, three sons, John C. (Denise) Pettit, Morgantown, WV., Steven (Cindy) Pettit, Laurel, MD, and Dr. Dennis Pettit, Donnelsville, Kim Pettit, Fairborn, 7 grandchildren, Allison Pettit and Andrea Pettit, Morgantown, WV, Brian Pettit (Christina), Laurel, MD, Cara Cloutier (Greg), Jacksonville, FL, Michael Pettit, Cleveland, Maria Pettit, Houston, TX, and Matthew Pettit, New Carlisle, a brother, George William Pettit, Phoenix, AZ, by five nieces and a nephew, and by many close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a brother, John Allen Pettit. Memorial services will be held at 3pm, Saturday, June 3, at Memorial United Presbyterian Church, 343 W. Ankeney Mill Rd., Xenia, with Rev. Kelley W. Shin officiating. Private graveside services will be held by the family in the K of P Cemetery, Elizabeth, WV. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Memorial United Presbyterian Church, or to Hospice of the Miami Valley, 46 N. Detroit St., Suite B., Xenia, OH, 45385, in his memory. Condolences may be made to the family at www.NeeldFuneralHome.com .