Terry Joseph Petrun
August 30, 1950 - July 29, 2026
Visitation: Friends received Sunday, Aug. 2 from 1 – 3 p.m., and Monday, Aug. 3 from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m at Devlin Funeral Home of Cranberry, 2678 Rochester Road
Service: Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday 10 AM at St. Ferdinand Church, Divine Grace Parish
Terry Joseph Petrun, aged 75, passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. Terry was born to Joseph and Ruth Petrun (both deceased) in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and grew up in South Fork. He served in the U.S. Army and married Patricia Petrun (born Cordek) in 1974. They later welcomed two children: Erin Shea (born Petrun) and Adam Petrun.
Terry’s career spanned 52 years in the airline industry; he did everything from working at the ticket counter to earning his pilot’s license. As he climbed the corporate ladder, he held several senior leadership roles at American Airlines, including Vice President of the company’s Shared Services Organization. He loved his job, and continued consulting for American until shortly before his death.
Terry’s work with the airline industry gave him the opportunity to explore the world. He loved to travel and visited many countries over the years, including South Africa, Brazil, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, England, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, Mexico, and more. In his free time, he loved to work on cars, golf, fish, and watch baseball – especially the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Terry is survived by his wife Patricia, his daughter Erin and son-in-law Casey, his son Adam and daughter-in-law Katelynn, and his granddaughter Norah. He will be remembered as a dedicated provider who did everything he could to ensure his family was safe. When asked what gave him the strength to keep fighting, he replied, “My wife and my family.”
Anyone who would like to pay their respects to Terry and offer support to his family may attend the following viewings at Devlin Funeral Home in Cranberry Township, 2678 Rochester Road: Sunday, Aug. 2 from 1 – 3 p.m., and Monday, Aug. 3 from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. A funeral mass for family and friends will be held at Divine Grace Parish (St. Ferdinand’s) in Cranberry Township on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m. Following the service, there will be a private entombment ceremony at Holy Savior Mausoleum in Pine Township.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that mourners make donations in Terry’s honor to Canterbury Place https://UPMC.com/familyhospicedonate in Pittsburgh, a nursing home and hospice facility that cared for Terry in his final days, or the American Cancer Society.
Was sorry to learn of Terry’s passing today. He was a highly respected colleague who I looked up to and revered. He was a wealth of information and tribal knowledge, often unavailable elsewhere, and was always more than happy to share it for the benefit of others, including myself many times bHe was truly a gentleman and will be missed. I am thankful for his example in my life and career. My condolences to all his family and friends.
A great guy and the best of friends. I will sorely miss him and all that he has done for our aviation community.
I’m so sorry to hear about Terry. He was my manager for most of my career at the airline. I worked with him on many projects, and he was a great manager. He always kept the company and his employees’ best interests in mind. I did my best for him, and he was always appreciative. I could not have asked for a better boss, and I am very grateful to be a part of his work “family” for so many years. Terry really did live up to the company mission of “caring for people on life’s journey”
My deepest sympathies, Pat, Erin, and Adam. May you find comfort in the knowledge that God has released Terry from his mortal suffering. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Mandy
Terry was my “boss-dad” for almost 25 years. I can’t emphasize enough how he was much more. He was a mentor, he was a brilliant mind, he was an encourager, friend, and a continuum on seeing people better themselves along with bettering the airline to be its best in quality and success. The last six years of my position with American, he was the first face I saw each morning (when he didn’t beat me in the office), and he always looked in to say good morning, with a smile and a morning greeting and/or a sarcastic remark on the weather. For such a significant and prestigious role he played with the airline, he was, no matter what the age difference, our “dad”.
Thank you Terry for your kindness and support to be a hard worker and a better person!
God bless you and your wonderful family, who you were always remarking on and how proud you were of them.
My deepest condolences go out to Terry’s family. I had the opportunity to work for Terry for 15 years. I could write a book on all I learned from him as a professional, and as a person. I remember vividly interviewing with him and my first flight working at US Airways – I was terrified of flying at the time – he looked at me once we got seated and asked if I wanted to hold hands – still makes me chuckle to this day every time I get on an airplane. He was the absolute best boss ever and a great personal friend. Every now and again I would call him out for referring to me as “kiddo.” I look back on the time I spent with him and have so many great memories sitting in his office and traveling back and forth to Dayton and Salisbury. He was a wealth of knowledge and loved the work he did, and the airline industry. He will be missed.
Pat, Erin and Adam,
So sorry to hear about Terry.
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Rose and Joe Grieggs