Obituary of Gilbert R. Petteys

Town of Wilton, NY Gilbert R. Petteys, 89, passed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his home early a.m. Friday , April 11, 2025, surrounded by his beloved wife and children. Born on March 14, 1936 in Glens Falls, NY, he was the son of the late Earl Petteys and Gertrude (Cady) Petteys. Gilbert grew up in the town of Wilton with humble beginnings. He went to a one room school house on Gordon Lane and then went on to graduate from South Glens Falls High School in 1954. Gilbert served in the United States Navy in 1955 and served 4 years as a Sea Bee in Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska. On January 31, 1959, he went on a first date with the beautiful Arleen Ernst, whom he had known since the one room schoolhouse. In June they were engaged, and then married the same year on September 19, 1959. They headed to California for their honeymoon with a plan to stay 6 months with a construction job prospect, but because of lack of funds, they stayed one year. They returned to NY by car in 3 days with a cooked turkey in a cooler for sandwiches and a new baby in tow. Gilbert worked construction jobs until he started his own business, Wilton Saw Filing, in 1976. About one year later, in 1977, Gil was confronted by a question that appeared in the form of a gospel tract- "Where will you be 5 minutes after you die?", which his wife had left on the dresser. This troubled him, and he went to church with his family and heard the gospel of how Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to rescue him from his sin. He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and he became a new man that day. Over the years, Gil and Arleen served the Lord together, including 4 missions trips to Romania, Ukraine, South Africa and Moldova. Gilbert is predeceased by his parents, younger brother Thomas, and daughter in-law Emily. He is survived by his beloved wife of his youth, Arleen, 5 children, Carl Petteys (Kathy), Philip Petteys (Emily), Diana Paradis (Steven), Marianne Coulter (John), and Lara Priest (John), 18 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren, and his older brother, Glenn Petteys, and younger "kid" brother Alvin Petteys. We want to thank all of the wonderful care received through Hospice, and especially to his nurse, Jill, and social worker, Karen. Calling hours are at the Wilton Funeral Home, 395 Ballard Rd, Wilton, NY on Monday April 14, 2025 from 4-7pm. A funeral service will be held at Wilton Baptist Church, 755 Saratoga Rd., Wilton, NY at 11:30 a.m. followed by the burial at the G.B.H.S. Saratoga National Cemetery at 2pm. The desire of the family in lieu of flowers is that donations be made to one of these: The Community Hospice, Capital City Rescue Mission, Olde Liberty Baptist Church and Wilton Baptist Church Directions and condolences visit www.mevecfuneralhome.com