Robert “Bunk” Pettit

Robert Sylvester "Bunk" Pettit, 84, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Friday, December 25, 2015, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born November 15, 1931, in Cape Girardeau, to Curtis L. and Verlean Miller Pettit.

Bunk was a 1950 graduate of the former John S. Cobb High School in Cape Girardeau. He entered the U.S. Army June 2, 1950, in St. Louis. He was awarded a purple heart, a combat infantryman badge, the United Nations service medal, a Korean service medal with four bronze service stars, and a distinquished unit citation. He was honorably discharged as a Sargent on June 7, 1953, in Fort Benning, Georgia.

He continued to serve his country, entering the U.S. Air Force on October 29, 1954 in Boston, Massachuettes. An Airman 2nd Class, he was honorably discharged August 28, 1958, at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.

He retired as an inspector from the City of Chicago.

Loving survivors include three sons, Steven (Agnes) Mason of Sikeston, Missouri, Curtis (Julia) Burton of Atlanta, Georgia, Robert (Marsha) Pettit III of Chicago, Illinois; a daughter, Robin Pettit of Chicago; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Carolyn Pettit Wade; and a great-grandchild.

Visitation is Saturday, January 2, 2016, from 1 p.m. to service time, at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral is Saturday at 3 p.m., at the funeral home, with the Rev. Byron Bonner officiating. Full military honors will follow the service.

A committal service will be held Monday, January 4, 2016, at 10 AM, at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Missouri Veterans Home Foundation.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.

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