BLUEFIELD —
Pete Pelts, 88 of Bluefield, W.Va. died following a brief illness on October 11, 2012.
Born February 11, 1924, in Elkhorn, W.Va., he was the son of European immigrants Joseph and Anna Galida Peltz.
A 1942 graduate of Elkhorn High School, he joined the U.S. Army and received his basic training at Camp McCain, Mississippi. He then proceeded to serve his country during World War II in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France, as Private First Class.
In 1947, he started out in the loading dock at Bluefield Supply Company. Five years later he had worked his way up to the sales department. For the next 30 years, he traveled the roads of the two Virginias providing faithful and loyal service to his many customers. He was awarded the Top Salesman Award in 1965 from the Sales Executive Club, as well as being honored as a member of the Million Dollar Sales Club. Pete enjoyed representing Bluefield Supply in their recreational basketball and bowling teams.
After 36 years of service to Bluefield Supply Company in 1983, Pete he continued to serve the A-Mart stores in the local area for several years.
Known as a man devoted to his family, kind, self-sacrificing, generous, and humble, Pete was also a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
His stories and anecdotes were the highlights of many family reunions and get-togethers, bringing laughter and smiles and a renewed knowledge of sacrifice, commitment, and determination.
The Pelts family has been blessed to be a part of a special neighborhood in Bluefield for the past 56 years.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Andy, Mike, and Nick, all of whom served their country in World War II. Surviving are his sisters, Annie Lenosky of Woodland, Michigan, Emma Lavin, Bluefield, W.Va., Julia Holstein, Greenville, S.C., and Mary 'Toots' Coburn, Charleston, W.Va., and many nieces and nephews.
Pete was a faithful and devoted husband for 52 years to his wife Ila Mae Pelts, who preceded him in death in 1999.
Celebrating Pete's memory are his children, Mary Ann McElmurray, husband, Dr. Charles T. McElmurray, of Blythewood, S.C.; John Pelts and wife, Sue, of Bluefield, Va.; and Wayne Pelts, and wife, Beverly, of Bluefield, W.Va.
"Pop Pop" Pelts was especially proud of his ten grandchildren: Sarah, Benjamin, Anna, Mary, and Ruth McElmurray, all of Blythewood, S.C.; Sydney Pelts, Bluefield, Va.; Jonathan Pelts, and his wife, Olivia, Nairobi, Kenya, Bethany Pelts, Lookout Mountain, Ga., David and Daniel Pelts, Bluefield, W.Va.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, October 14 at 2:00 p.m., with the Rev. Susan Rector officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 1:00 to 2:00 at Mercer Funeral Home, Bluefield, W.Va.
Honorary pallbearers include long-time co-workers and neighbors, Joe Graham, Harry Gray, Howard Hale, Jimmy Hill, Ollie Law, W. Taylor Moore, Bob Mustard, E.G. Royal.
Pallbearers include: Dr. Charles T. McElmurray, Josh Anderson, Pat Haye, Brian Krabbe, Peter Romano, and Rick Taylor.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Bible In The Schools, P.O. Box 543, Bluefield, WV, or Trinity United Methodist Church, 401 College Ave., Bluefield, WV.
Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family of Mr. Pete Pelts may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com
Mercer Funeral Home and Crematory of Bluefield is serving the family.
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