Marion Adolphus Pettit
CPT in 3133rd Signal Service Co : Company Commander
ASN#14027335
Born 1917 in FL, Died 2009
County of residence at enlistment: Alachua County, FL
Other residence(s): Gainesville, FL
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: clerks, general office
College education before the war: Univ. of Florida 3 years
Marion Pettit was born on September 16, 1917 in Monteocha, FL, a small settlement in rural Alachua County. He was the middle of three children born to a farmer; his mother had one child from a previous marriage who also became part of the household. By 1930, his father had transitioned to owning and operating a feed mill, and his mother served as postmistress.
Marion enrolled at the University of Florida in Gainesville, about 12 miles from home. There he studied accounting and was a member of ROTC, and by early 1940 had achieved the rank of CPT. At the time of the 1940 census, he had completed three years of college and was working in a maintenance job on campus. He enlisted on October 15, 1940; at the time he was working as an office clerk (probably part time). He may have completed his undergraduate degree in 1940 or 1941.
He married Winonah Venessa Edwards on July 9, 1942.
While he started out as an "air cadet," he eventually found his way to Pine Camp NY as Company Commander of the 3133 Signal Service Company, which saw service in Italy.
After returning from Europe with the rank of CPT, he returned to Florida. (He may have continued to serve in the Army or the Reserves, since his VA death record says his release date was August 23, 1947.) Other sources say that he became a member of the state auditor staff in 1945. He and Winonah welcomed the birth of their only child, a daughter Judith. In 1954, he was appointed an assistant state auditor by his older half-brother Charley Johns, who had become acting governor of Florida.
In 1960, he passed the CPA exam. He served until about 1970 with the state auditor's office, and then went into private practice as a CPA in Alachua County.
He died on July 17, 2009, and is buried at Newnansville Cemetery in Gainesville, FL.
Sources:
1920 census
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/14590889:6061?ssrc=pt&tid=15881529&pid=20365356535
1930 census
1935 Florida state census
1940 census
1940 article in the Tampa Tribune (FL); identifies him as a ROTC cadet with the rank of CPT at the University of Florida, Gainesville
https://www.newspapers.com/image/327035337/?terms=marion%20pettit&match=1
1940 enlistment record
1954 article in The News Tribune (Fort Pierce, FL) re his work
https://www.newspapers.com/image/15331630/?terms=marion%20pettit&match=1
1960 article in Tampa Bay Times (FL); he passed CPA exam
https://www.newspapers.com/image/318097418/?terms=marion%20pettit&match=1
1969 article in Tampa Tribune (FL) re his daughter
https://www.newspapers.com/image/331620133/?terms=marion%20a%20pettit&match=1
1974 article in The Orlando Sentinel (FL) re his running for state senate
https://www.newspapers.com/image/225221263/?terms=marion%20a%20pettit&match=1
1974 article in The Tampa Tribune (FL); contains some biographical details
https://www.newspapers.com/image/333933306/?terms=marion%20pettit&match=1
1993-1995 US Public Records Index
2009 Find a Grave record
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97072916/marion-adolphus-pettit
2009 VA death record
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/6718477:2441?ssrc=pt&tid=15881529&pid=20365356535