Family will receive friends on Wednesday April 16, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. at White's Funeral and Cremation Services. Interment: Eastlawn Cemetery. This service will be livestreamed starting at 11:00 a.m.

Robert L. Pettus, Age 76, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away on April 8, 2025.

Robert was born on September 3, 1948, in Huntsville, Alabama, to Ned Pettus and Sarah Ann Pettus. He graduated from Linden McKinley High School in 1966 and went on to attend Ohio State University, completing his bachelor’s degree in Social Work. He worked as a social worker for both Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, before joining the Columbus Fire Department in 1980.

Robert began his firefighting career at Fire Station 18, where he eventually became a paramedic. He later transferred to Fire Station 1 as a paramedic, serving there until he was assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau in 1988. He continued in that role until his retirement in September 2003 after a distinguished career with the department.

Robert is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Eleanor Rose Pettus; daughter, Annette (Richard) M. Hobbs; brother, Ned (Lonette) Pettus Jr.; sister, Wanda (Darrell) Sealy; grandchildren, Tawain McAfee, Tamika McAfee, Michael (Chanel), Antoine (Courtney) McCord, Sarah A. Pettus (Patrick Borghese), Alex Martin, Sharese (Ricardo) Handy, Danielle Hobbs, and Richard Hobbs Jr.; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ned Pettus and Sarah Ann Pettus; his son, Robert Lee Pettus Jr.; and his daughter, Terry McAfee.

Robert was known for his dedication to public service, his compassion for others, and his love for his family. He was especially passionate about talking about the Word of God to everyone he would meet. His favorite saying was, “As long as I got King Jesus,” and it was no secret how deeply he loved God. He was a true witness of faith, always sharing his belief and love for the Lord with those around him.

In his free time, he had a great passion for working on cars—he could fix and build just about anything. In his younger days, Robert loved fast cars, motorcycles, and playing pool with his cousin Bruce. He also enjoyed going to the racetrack and watching horse racing, where he could enjoy the thrill of speed and competition. His love for fixing things and his adventurous spirit were just a few of the many ways he touched the lives of those around him.

Robert Lee would say:
“I’m in a Win Win situation. If my God extends my life here on this earth, I won. If He calls me home to be with Him, I won. No matter what, as long as I got King Jesus, I’m victorious—therefore, I’m in a Win Win situation.”