Philip Allen Pettus of Lake Wales, Florida died July 29^th in Winter Haven Hospital after a short illness. He was 74.

He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on September 26, 1943, to James and Vera Pettus. He attended elementary school in Miami and graduated from H.B. Plant High School in Tampa in 1961. After graduation, Philip served in the Marine Corps where he was stationed at Quantico, Virginia, and later at Oahu, Hawaii. After earning a degree from Florida Atlantic University, he took a leadership role in Boy Scouts of America. An Eagle Scout himself, he was promoted to District Scout Executive Gulf Ridge Council BSA. Upon leaving scouting, he went on to have a successful career in journalism with several Central Florida newspapers, including The Daily Highlands (Lake Wales) and The St. Cloud News. Phillip was the county editor for The Lakeland Ledger from 1976 – 1978. In 1978, he became the editor of The Arcadian in Arcadia, Florida. In later years, he moved to California where he was managing editor of Temple City Life and assisted in publication of the Alhambra paper.

Philip is preceded in death by his brother, Jim and his parents. He is survived by a son Patrick (Joanna) Pettus, a daughter Mary (Randell) Williams, a step-daughter Sarah (James) Wolff, five grandchildren: Ensley, Ambrey, Colton, Abigail, and Landen, and two brothers: Currey (Laura) Pettus and Jack (Pam) Pettus. To his family and friends, he was a man of wide knowledge, good humor, and charity. His special interest continued to be prison ministry (Kairos).

Memorial Service will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, August 04, 2018 at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home with Rev. Chad Reynolds officiating.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Avon Park CI Advisory Council C/O Barrett Nelson, P.O. Box 829, Lake Wales, Florida 33859-0829.