Roland Joseph Petit

Roland Joseph Petit was born in Fall River, Massachusetts on October 9, 1923, the youngest of 10 children of Omer and Marie (Dion) Petit. He was a graduate of Durfee High School and the former Herrick's Institute of Business in that city, studied at Boston University, and was a graduate of the Gulf Management Institute, Bethany, West Virginia. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, and served as a petty officer aboard an LST (Landing Ship Tanks/Troops). He participated in the invasion of Southern France in 1944. Thereafter, and being bi-lingual (French), he was assigned as interpreter with a shore based special security unit as part of a U.S. Naval Detachment. He was a lifetime charter member of the National World War II Memorial and U.S. Navy Memorial. He was awarded medals for his participation in the American Campaign, the European-African-Middle Easter Campaign and the World War II Victory. In later years he received an award from the Republic of France of participating in the ""Liberation of France"", 1944-1945 (translated from the French. After that war he began a long career with the Gulf Oil Corporation, with offices in Fall River, MA, Providence, RI, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and finally Baltimore, where he ended a 35-year career as Credit Director for Gulf/Chevron Oil Corporation, Middle Atlantic District. He was a former Treasurer for the Eastern Petroleum Credit Managers Association, former volunteer business counselor with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Manasota Chapter 116, sponsored by U.S. Small Business Administration. He was the last surviving president of the original La Casa Homeowners Association, former Second Vice Commander of the La Casa Veterans Club, and a member of the Voices of La Casa chorus for 27 years, as well as its manager 1993-1997. He was predeceased by 3 brothers, all World War II veterans, and 5 sisters. Twice married, he was pre-deceased by Alice Southworth, who died in 1983, and Ruth Heagy Nengel of Westminster-Baltimore, MD, who passed away in 2008. Survivors are two daughters, Marie P. Boyer (David), and Ann P. Fariss (James) of Jarrettsville, MD and Westminster, MD respectively; two grandsons, Joseph Michael Boyer of Mars, PA, and James Roland Boyer of Jarrettsville; a sister, Mae P. Pelletier of Fall River, MA, also a stepson David Nengel of Pikesville, MD, and step-daughter Mary Lou Gudaitis of Unionville, NC; numerous nieces and nephews, especially nieces Barbara Pineault, Eleanor Blais, Beverly Costa and Doris Hammond; special family friend, Claudette Beland, and cherished friend, Kathy Berencsi. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at San Pedro Catholic Church, North Port, Florida on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 10:00AM. Burial with military honors will follow at Venice Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Honor Flight, Inc., Attn: Diane Gresse, 300 East Auburn Avenue, Springfield, Ohio 45505 or you can send an online donation by visiting http://www.honorflight.org/donate-now/donation.cfm. Farley Funeral Home in North Port is handling the arrangements. To send condolences please visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com. Service Information Date: Thursday, May 29, 2014 Time: 10:00 am San Pedro Catholic Church Address: 14380 Tamiami Trail, , North Port, FL, 34287 | Map Cemetery Information Date: Thursday, May 29, 2014 Venice Memorial Gardens Address: 1950 Center Road, , Venice, FL, 34292 (941) 493-4246 | Map