William D. Petty of Water Mill Dies August 4

William D. Petty of Water Mill died on August 4, following a courageous battle against Alzheimer’s disease. He was 86.

He was descended from Elias Petty, who was the original owner of the Water Mill that is now the Water Mill Museum, in 1748.

Originally from East Hampton, he moved to Water Mill when he was 12.

He joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Southampton High School in 1955, which led to him meeting his wife, Muriel, in Norfolk, Virginia, where she was visiting her brother, who was Petty’s shipmate. They had three sons.

After his service in 1958, he and his father started W.J. Petty and Son Plumbing and Heating in Water Mill.

While his sons were growing up, Petty was a member of the Water Mill Community Club, at which he coached youth baseball and soccer. He was a Melvin Jones Award recipient and past president and 50-year member of the Southampton Lions Club. He was a member of the Noyak Golf Club, Southampton American Legion Post 388 and volunteered at the Water Mill Museum.

Following retirement, he enjoyed gardening, spending time with his grandkids, and even taught himself to build boats.

He was predeceased by his father, William J. Petty; his mother, Bertha Zaluski; and his sister-in-law, Margaret “Peg”. He is survived by his wife, Muriel; his brother, Richard; his sister, Deborah Foster (Brian); his three sons, Mike (Christina), David, and Bob (Kelly); and his five grandchildren, Tim, Caitlin, Nicole, Nick and Alex.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 7, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at O’Connell-Rothwell Funeral Home in Southampton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 8, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Poland in Southampton. Interment will follow at Water Mill Cemetery in Water Mill.

In lieu of flowers, donations to either the Water Mill Community Club, the Water Mill Museum, the American Legion Post 388, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital can be made in his name.