Byron Wilson Petty passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at the age of 92, in Lexington, Va.

Mr. Petty was born in Wingo, Kentucky, on June 2, 1919. He grew up on his father's tobacco farm and became, at an early age, an assistant meat buyer for the Styden Store chain. He then served four years in the Army (three in the European Theater of Operations.)

Following the war, Petty became a claims manager and supervisor for the Continental Insurance Corporation in Roanoke and Richmond, Va., retiring after 30 years. During his time he was voted President of the Roanoke Claims Association, the Virginia Claims Association, and three years for the National Claims Association. After a brief retirement, he founded and managed the Petty Claims Service for six years.

While living in Roanoke, he was elected Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge, helping to plan the current lodge in Roanoke. After moving to Moneta, Va., in the 1970s (at Smith Mountain Lake), he served as President of the Moneta Ruritan Club, and later District Governor of area Ruritan Clubs.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Harriet Petty; his father, Joseph E. Petty; his mother, Allie B. Enock; his sister, Ruth Washam; his brothers, Truman and Marvin; and his stepson, Charles V. Carter.

He is survived by his son, Byron William Petty; daughter-inlaw, Dr. Shuko Watanabe; sister-in-law, Alda Hayes; nephews Hubert, Eugene, and Jackie Petty, and Gene and John Hayes; stepgrandsons, Charles and Ray Carter; and great-grandchildren, Brittany, Bryan Carter, and Noah Ethridge.

He will be buried next to his wife, Harriet Petty, at Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem, Va. He was a man of good humor and kindness and will be missed by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held at Oakey's South Chapel, at noon on Saturday, July 23, 2011. The interment will be private. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a small donation be made to your local SPCA.

Arrangements by Oakey's Funeral Home, South Chapel, Roanoke, VA.