This week Barbara read a book that
was written backwards on purpose. It started where most books leave off
and tell the story back to the beginning. I have been really trying to
find a good way to tell my Factional Autobiography. I don't remember
everything in enough detail that I would call it fact or an
Autobiography. There has to be enough of my war stories thrown in
to make it readable.
I think it needs to start with my
Obituary so here is a go at that:
Colonel (Ret) Dennis Earl Petty
Age - OLDER than Dirt
Dennis Petty of Tecumseh
died rather than sit around and waste away until he was no longer functional. He was born in
Wichita, Kansas on the 1st of August 1947 to Glen Walter and
Virginia Dene (Lee) Petty.
Dennis grew up in Wichita and attended Minneha until later he graduated
from Wichita High School East in 1965. Dennis was drafted into the Army in
1966. He attended Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and
was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery on the
third of July 1967. Upon Graduation, Dennis was assigned to Fort Irwin,
California where he met and married the love of his life, Barbara. He
then served a tour in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam. He was awarded
the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for his service
during the war.
Upon discharge from the Army Dennis
continued his education at Wichita State and Kansas University on the GI
Bill. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business from Kansas
University in 1975. He was a life long Jay hawk fan.
While a student at KU, Dennis Joined
the Kansas Army National Guard. He Commanded Battery B, 2-130th FA
in Horton, Kansas. He went to work for the Guard full time in 1975 and
later commanded the 1st Battalion, 127th Field Artillery,
35th Infantry Division in Ottawa, Kansas. Dennis served on the
staffs of two excellent Adjutant’s Generals and one of kind of OK guy. He assisted with
planning and delivery of six Kansas Governor’s Inaugurals and the Military
portion of the funeral of Alf Landon. He assisted in the writing and
development of the Military Support Plan for the Wolf Creek Nuclear Power
Plant. He served as the “Big Bunny” as the planner for the Governor’s Easter
egg hunt on many occasions. For many years Dennis coordinated the International
Officer’s visit to Topeka from Fort Leavenworth. Dennis wrote prepared slides and delivered the Adjutant General's briefing to many groups. He served as President
of the Kansas National Guard Association in 1988. He helped that organization
reach 100% Officer strength that year. Colonel Petty worked full time for the
Kansas Army National Guard until he retired as the Director of Plans,
Operations, and Training in 1997 with 30 years service as a commissioned
officer and over 20 years of Civil Service. Along with medals and ribbons
for long service, he was awarded the the Meritorious
Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.
Dennis sang with the Topeka Capitol
Barbershop Chorus and the Free State Barbershop quartet. He was also a
member of the Topeka Area Classic Chevy Club. Dennis volunteered with the
Topeka Performing Arts Center. Dennis trained for and was a Master Foods
Volunteer for the Shawnee County Extension program. Until his death, Dennis
served as the head laborer, chief cook and bottle washer for his wife at Rabbit
Run Farms in Tecumseh. Barbara said he would just load the dishwasher after a
bad experience in the 9th grade when he got a D in Algebra and had to was the
dishes for a family of six for 9 weeks.
Dennis Married his wife Barbara Jean
(Schmoe) Petty in 1968 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was one of the few gambles he ever won there. They have one son David
Petty who with his wife Barbara N. Petty live in Tecumseh. Other
survivors include: His sisters; Myrna Ikenberry and her husband,
Ray, of Lawrence; Carol Lee Landis and her husband, Alan, of Lawrence; and his
brother Richard Petty of Skiatook, Oklahoma.
It was Dennis's goal in life was to
arrive at the place of his death worn out, used well and put away wet a lot. He wanted
to slide in the oven a day before the Devil knows he is gone. He wants to shout Yahoo so loud that the Devil is scared of who's coming. Dennis will be
cremated and buried someplace when his wife figures out where at a later
date. His military friends are all invited to meet him in due course at
Fiddlers Green where he will have a cold canteen of Muzzle Blast waiting for
them. Dennis has encouraged memorial donations be sent to the Museum of the
Kansas National Guard, Forbes Field.
I am not dead yet Boys and
Girls. Hope to be doing this for a long time
MUD
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