He is the last of the five Pitman brothers, Edgar, Don, Rinard and Willard, a well-known family from the early days of Madera County. His father, Eli Pitman, was a grain farmer and his mother, Mary Alice Pitman was an elementary school teacher. He was taught by his mother in the original one-room Webster School schoolhouse near the family farm. He graduated from Madera High School in 1937, later attending UC Davis in 1939.
In April, 1941, Bob signed up with the U.S. Navy to become a pilot. After passing the initial pilot training, he was sent to Corpus Christi, Texas for added cadet training which he completed just before December 7, 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. In May of 1942, Bob received his wings as a Naval Aviator with the rank of Ensign. Thus began his military career as one of the "Greatest Generation". His first duty station was in Norfolk, Virginia flying patrol missions off the Atlantic coast. Later, he was trained on a twin engine PV1 attack bomber used for patrol. His next assignment was to North Africa to provide anti-submarine patrols outside the Straight of Gibraltar. Once he completed 55 missions, Bob returned to the United States for Instructor Pilot duties in Rhode Island and was discharged in 1945 at the end of WWII.
His business career included working as an insurance agent on the East Coast, managing a trucking business and serving in the Navy Reserves as a pilot in Pennsylvania. Bob and Ruth with their 3 children moved to Madera to rejoin the Pitman family activities. Working at various jobs in the Madera and Fresno area, when in 1989, Bob opened Pitman Crop Insurance office in Madera.
Bob and Ruth were active members of the First Presbyterian Church in Madera. A member of the Madera Masonic Lodge #280 F & AM, the Scottish Rite and Tehran Shrine of Fresno, the Madera High Twelve #646. Serving as a Board of Director on the Hospice of Madera County, Bob was an active member that worked to join with Hinds Hospice. Recently, Bob joined the Quiet Birdmen Fresno Hangar.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth in 2002 and his 4 brothers Edgar J., Donald Gary, Rinard and Willard W. Pitman.
He is survived by his daughters, Nancy N. P. Jones and husband Mack of Madera; Sarah P. Evans of Austin, Texas; his son Gregory D. Pitman of New York; four grandchildren, Benjamin B. Jones and Lillian M. Daniel of Madera, Andrew Evans and Elyssa Evans of Austin, Texas; his sisters-in-law, Edith N. Rathbun and Virginia R. Howard both of Providence, Rhode Island.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 17, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the Harvest Community Church, 2001 National Ave. in Madera. Private inurnment will be in the Arbor Vitae Cemetery. Arrangements by Jay Chapel.
Memorials may be made to Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw Ave., Suite A-5, Fresno, CA 93711 or Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic Scottish Rite Temple,1435 L Street, Fresno, CA 93721 in Fresno.
Source: Jay Chapel Obituary
He is the last of the five Pitman brothers, Edgar, Don, Rinard and Willard, a well-known family from the early days of Madera County. His father, Eli Pitman, was a grain farmer and his mother, Mary Alice Pitman was an elementary school teacher. He was taught by his mother in the original one-room Webster School schoolhouse near the family farm. He graduated from Madera High School in 1937, later attending UC Davis in 1939.
In April, 1941, Bob signed up with the U.S. Navy to become a pilot. After passing the initial pilot training, he was sent to Corpus Christi, Texas for added cadet training which he completed just before December 7, 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. In May of 1942, Bob received his wings as a Naval Aviator with the rank of Ensign. Thus began his military career as one of the "Greatest Generation". His first duty station was in Norfolk, Virginia flying patrol missions off the Atlantic coast. Later, he was trained on a twin engine PV1 attack bomber used for patrol. His next assignment was to North Africa to provide anti-submarine patrols outside the Straight of Gibraltar. Once he completed 55 missions, Bob returned to the United States for Instructor Pilot duties in Rhode Island and was discharged in 1945 at the end of WWII.
His business career included working as an insurance agent on the East Coast, managing a trucking business and serving in the Navy Reserves as a pilot in Pennsylvania. Bob and Ruth with their 3 children moved to Madera to rejoin the Pitman family activities. Working at various jobs in the Madera and Fresno area, when in 1989, Bob opened Pitman Crop Insurance office in Madera.
Bob and Ruth were active members of the First Presbyterian Church in Madera. A member of the Madera Masonic Lodge #280 F & AM, the Scottish Rite and Tehran Shrine of Fresno, the Madera High Twelve #646. Serving as a Board of Director on the Hospice of Madera County, Bob was an active member that worked to join with Hinds Hospice. Recently, Bob joined the Quiet Birdmen Fresno Hangar.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth in 2002 and his 4 brothers Edgar J., Donald Gary, Rinard and Willard W. Pitman.
He is survived by his daughters, Nancy N. P. Jones and husband Mack of Madera; Sarah P. Evans of Austin, Texas; his son Gregory D. Pitman of New York; four grandchildren, Benjamin B. Jones and Lillian M. Daniel of Madera, Andrew Evans and Elyssa Evans of Austin, Texas; his sisters-in-law, Edith N. Rathbun and Virginia R. Howard both of Providence, Rhode Island.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 17, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the Harvest Community Church, 2001 National Ave. in Madera. Private inurnment will be in the Arbor Vitae Cemetery. Arrangements by Jay Chapel.
Memorials may be made to Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw Ave., Suite A-5, Fresno, CA 93711 or Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic Scottish Rite Temple,1435 L Street, Fresno, CA 93721 in Fresno.
Source: Jay Chapel Obituary
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