Member of the Month - January, 2009

     Meet Victor and Jean Petito, our Members of the Month for January, 2009.
     Victor, from here on will be called “Vic”, was born on January 29, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York. Vic attended all of his elementary and high school years in Brooklyn. He graduated from Boys High School in Brooklyn in 1953 He attended Texas Christian University.
     Vic moved to Oklahoma City from Ft. Worth, Texas in the 1960’s. He has been credit managers at Family Loan, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Montgomery Ward and from 1969 to 1998 he was president of the Oklahoma City Retailer Association. Vic was also a member of the United State Air Force.
     Vic joined Village Christian in 1988. Vic has held many positions at VCC some of them are Finance Committee, Fellowship Committee, Search & Call Committee and is currently serving as a deacon. His favorite hymn is “Because He Lives”.
     Vic says he likes bologna sandwiches and Pizza. His favorite place to eat is a café in Florida called the Salt Water Café. Naturally when asked where his favorite vacation spot was he replied Florida. He says he enjoys spending time with his wife, Jean, but also enjoys photography, autograph collecting and working or playing on the computer.
     Barbara Jean Grafa was born on November 4, 1942 in Durant, Oklahoma.
     Jean went to elementary school in Ada, Oklahoma and after moving to Oklahoma City she attended Andrew Johnson Elementary. She graduated from John Marshall High School in 1960. She attended Central State University.
     Jean said she is almost a charter member of Village Christian as she remembers going to church at the band room of John Marshall. She has been a member of Village Christian all of her adult life. Jean has been Fellowship chair, Co-Chair of Deacons and served on the Worship, Outreach and Fellowship committees and currently serves as a deacon. Her most important job here at VCC is the goodies that she bakes and brings every Sunday morning for coffee fellowship. Her favorite Hymn is “In the Garden”.
     Jean worked at Adair Cafeteria, Grafa Drug, the Federal Reserve and Liberty National Bank.
     Jean & Vic met at a financial meeting that they both attended. They were married at Village Christian Church on November 22, 1988.   Vic has 3 children, Bret and Rick Petito & Gina Hill. Jean has one daughter, Robin Hammonds. Together they have 5 grandchildren, Ryan Peck, Ashley Hill, Lauren Hill, Chelsea Hammonds and Tyler Hammonds. Vic says his son, Rick and wife have a baby on the way.      Jean says her favorite food is fried chicken and cheeseburgers. Jean enjoys reading, cooking, working out and taking a nap. Her favorite place to eat is Eischen’s in Okarche, OK. Of course her favorite get away is Florida too.  I asked both Vic & Jean, “What is a lesson that life has taught you?” Vic replied “pray about everything”. Jean answered “Embrace the small things both the receiving and especially the giving”. She also said, walking and napping are way underrated, see Jean for further instructions.
                                                                                           Written by Anita Basinger