Ellwood Merle Pettitt, age 64, of Riceville passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2002 at the Baum Harmon Mercy Hospital in Primghar, Iowa from a heart attack.

A memorial service will be held at the Riceville United Methodist Church in Riceville on Sunday, August 4, at 2:00 p.m. The Rev. Michael Carey will officiate. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery following the Memorial Service where military honors will be performed by the American Legion, Roy Gue Post 244.

Ellwood was born on September 22, 1937 in Lyle, Minn, to Oliver George and Ila Marie Anderson Pettitt. Ellwood moved to Riceville in 1950 with his parents after having resided in Bolan, Iowa near St. Ansgar. He attended local schools and graduated from Riceville High School in 1956.

In 1957 Ellwood joined the United States Army and served for two years in Germany as a cook with his Army Company. In August of 1961, Ellwood opened Pettitt’s Pantry. In March of 1967 he moved to the present location of Pettitt’s Cafe. He retired in April of this year.

Ellwood served his community faithfully, having received the Boy Scout Award of Merit, several Jaycee’s awards, the Governor’s Volunteer Award, and organized many fund raising events. Ellwood was a member of the Riceville Methodist Church, having served as Church Treasurer and Sunday School Superintendent for many years.

Survivors include a sister, Donna Dawson and her husband Donald of Paullina, Iowa; and a special friend, Judy Waddell of Riceville; three aunts, Audrey Hack of California, Eleanor Olson of Osage, Iowa, and Lilia Anderson of Cedar Falls, Iowa. Also surviving are many relatives and friends.

Ellwood was preceded in death by his mother in 1978 and his father in 1998.

Source: Riceville Recorder; Aug. 1, 2002 Page 9
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters