Theodore Petrovits

Theodore (Ted) Petrovits Jr, age 90, passed on to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, in Deland, Fl. He resided in Astor since 1971. He was a member of the Astor Baptist Church. He was born in Temple Terrance, FL. on Oct 19, 1930, to Elva and Theodore Petrovits Sr. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard at the age of 17, during his 21-year career he traveled into the Artic and Antarctic circles on C.G. ice breakers. After his marriage to Joyce, he and his young family traveled throughout the United States as he instructed Sonar classes to fellow Coast Guardsmen. Ted retired in 1969 as a Radioman Senior Chief (E8). Shortly after his retirement in New London, Ct., he, and his family moved to Florida and eventually settling in Astor. Ted became a fixture of Astor; he and Joyce became very involved in the Astor Baptist Church where he became a deacon and Joyce was using her beautiful voice in the choir. They were instrumental in expanding the church to include the present worship center. Ted also saw a need to improve the small existing Fire Department, he and several others volunteered many hours to ensure Astor had bigger and better fire equipment to serve the local community. He was also instrumental in bringing a Boy Scout Troop to Astor, he wanted the kids of Astor to get out and enjoy the outdoors and he led camping trips into the surrounding forest. Ted was best known in the Astor area as the local do-it-all handyman, from replacing entire leaky roofs to leaky plumbing, he could do anything. He worked many times knowing there wasn't going to be a payday for him, sometimes being paid with a bag of oranges or a sincere "thank you" and he was always happy to help those that needed it. He was also an adventurer, not only did he sail the oceans, but at the age of 16 he built his own motorbike and rode it from Charlotte, North Carolina to Miami to visit his family there. He loved the outdoors and loved to camp when he was younger. He also had a variety of pets including many snakes, two injured hawks, an alligator and whatever else that needed care to survive. He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Joyce, his parents Theodore Sr., and Elva, and siblings Stewart and Margaret Ted is survived by his loving children, his daughter Cindy Sparks (Don); his sons Ted III, and Todd (Stacy) and his grandchildren, Rebecca (Glenville), Erica (Alex), Amber, Donavan, and Amie, and two additional step grandchildren Dalton and Makayla and his great-grandchildren Max and Aubrey. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Astor Baptist Church, or your local Humane Society. Graveside services will be held at a later date.

Theodore Petrovits

October 19, 1930 - August 25, 2021