Charles Roberts Pettis Jr.

Charles Roberts Pettis, Jr., 91, died quietly in his home at Carlyle Place in Macon, Georgia on August 19, 2016 after living for many years with thyroid cancer. A resident of Carlyle Place since 2003, he was an active member of the community. Charlie was born on September 21, 1924 in Washington, DC to Colonel Charles R. Pettis, Sr. and Mary Woolsey Garnsey Pettis. His marriage to Louise Milne Pettis in 1944 lasted for 62 years until her death in 2006. A year later Charlie married Betty Dorminey of Macon, GA and they were blessed with warm companionship while sharing many adventures together. In the fall of 1942, Charlie entered Ohio State University. Two months later he enlisted in the Army and was selected to join the Army Specialized Training Program at Carnegie Tech for two years. From there he was sent to Los Alamos, New Mexico, and became part of the Special Engineering Detachment where he was assigned to the Bomb Physics program as a junior engineer. The project resulted in the successful test of the first nuclear device at Trinity site on July 16, 1945. After his discharge in 1946 Charlie returned to Ohio State and completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering under the GI Bill. An early job at the International Salt Company in Watkins Glen, NY led to Charlie's first patent for a checkweigher. Checkweighers automatically check the weight of packaged goods to make sure they aren't underweight. This formed the foundation of Hi-Speed Checkweigher Inc., the company Charlie founded in 1953 in Ithaca, NY and is still in business today. He served as President through 1978 when he passed the torch to Victor Del Rosso and became Chairman of the Board. A signature project of Hi-Speed was the creation of the first automatic scales ever used to weigh mortar rounds. Prior to Hi-Speed's innovative invention, the production methods in place had been used since the Civil War. Hi-Speed's scales increased speed, reduced personnel exposure on the production line, and provided accuracy exceeding government requirements. Charlie holds numerous patents in fluidics, automatic checkweighing, automatic weighing machines, and material handling equipment. A notable attribute of Hi-Speed employees was their deep appreciation and enjoyment of the work environment he created. In the early 1980's Charlie moved to Hilton Head Island where he, only semi-retired, entered the field of computer retailing with two stores called Computer Gazebo. A life member of the Rotary Club, he created a website for the Bluffton Rotary, making it the fourth Rotary in the world to be on the web. He also spearheaded a Rotary project in India to create a portable water supply for travelers in the Mumbai railroad station. Rotary honored him with two Paul Harris fellowships for these leading edge projects. Charlie also greatly enjoyed his volunteer work as a tutor/mentor at the local elementary school in Hilton Head. In 2003 Charlie moved to Carlyle Place, a CCRC in Macon, GA where he has been an active and engaged member of that community. He was especially proud of the beautiful resident library that he and Betty worked so hard to create. Being a member of the Vineville Baptist Church was particularly meaningful to Charlie and he found great comfort and a spiritual home there. One of Charlie's foremost loves was photography. He got his first camera at age 13 and never stopped taking pictures. He thoroughly documented his family and the people and flowers of the world. As a member of camera clubs in Hilton Head and Macon he won many awards for the photographs he entered in exhibits and state fairs. At Carlyle Place Charlie has taken many professional quality portraits of residents. Charlie is survived by his second wife, Betty Dorminey Pettis (Macon, GA), his two children Chuck (Claudia) in Freeland, WA, and Lydia in Ithaca, NY, two grandchildren Bre (Kio) in Brooklyn and Morgan (Kat) in Bellevue, WA, and three great-grandchildren Ava, Aiden (Morgan) and Nika (Bre). He is also survived by Betty's sons Phil, John, and David Dorminey and their families. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 2:00PM at Hart's at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Road, with Dr. Richard Kremer officiating, followed by a Celebration of Life Reception in the Grand Ballroom at Carlyle Place at 3:00PM. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Pine Pointe Hospice (http://pinepointehospice.org/give.html) in Macon, or to the Vineville Baptist Church (http://www.vinevillebaptist.org/). Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola has charge of arrangements. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola has charge of arrangements.

this is updated information for service times