Gabriel Lewis Petre

Gabriel Lewis Petre, 92 of Huntsville passed away on August 16, 2017. Gabriel was born in Cleveland, OH to Reverend Gabriel and Julia Balogh Petre. Gabriel is predeceased by his parents as well as his sisters Esther, Isabelle and Helen. He is survived by his wife Gloria and son Gabriel L. Petre, III (Connie), of Alpharetta, Georgia as well as his sister Ethel and brother Eugene (Jackie) of Palm Bay, Florida. He will be deeply missed by Gloria’s children Brandon, Shannon, Jill and 7 grandchildren, Christopher, Erin, Makenna, Noah, Riley, Karis and Olivia; as well as many nieces, nephews and close friends. Gabriel graduated from West Tech High School in Cleveland Ohio in 1943 and promptly enlisted in the US Navy as an Apprentice Seaman. After graduating from Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame in July 1945, Gabriel was commissioned an Ensign. Following duty as a Combat Warfare Officer, in 1950 he completed Naval Flight Training in Pensacola. Gabriel saw action in the Korean War and was twice awarded the Navy Air Medal. Following combat duty in Korea, Gabriel was assigned as a Flight Instructor in jet aircraft and a member of the Admiral Staff in Naples, Italy. Gabriel retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 1964 and joined Stewart Warner Corp. In 1965, Gabriel took a leave from Stewart Warner to join his brother Gene in starting Worldwide Personnel, Inc. in Cleveland Ohio. He returned to Stewart Warner in 1966 in Washington and Chicago and while there, Gabriel was recognized for his efforts to promote minorities and women to positions of management and leadership within his company and others. After retiring from Stewart Warner, Gabriel moved to Saudi Arabia as Senior Vice President with Aldrees, Co. for 4 years. He returned to the US and served as the Executive Director of the Bethesda Baptist Retirement Home in Palm Bay, Florida. Gabriel then moved back to Chicago where he was an independent business consultant and Sr. Vice President for VPX, Corp. for many years. Gabriel continued his business career in Florida and Georgia before settling in Huntsville with his loving wife Gloria. In his personal and business travels Gabriel visited over 100 countries and every continent on Earth. Anyone planning expressions of sympathy is asked to consider Wounded Warrior Project. A memorial service will be held in Huntsville, Alabama on Saturday, August 26th from 2:00-4:00pm, in the home Gabriel and Gloria shared. A memorial service with full military honors will also be held in Palm Bay Florida, on Saturday, September 9th at 1:00pm at the Bethesda Baptist Church located at 2810 Fordham Rd NE, Palm Bay, FL 32905. Following the service, there will be a reception from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at the Shorewood Condominiums Clubhouse on Shorewood Drive in Cape Canaveral, FL. Please sign the guest registry at www.valhallafunerals.com.