Betty Pittman, 93, of Charlevoix, passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at her home.
She was born Mary Elizabeth Brady in Albion, Mich., on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, in 1921. She was the oldest of five children. Her father died during the Depression and she helped her widowed mother raise her younger siblings, two of whom had special needs.
She graduated from Albion High School in 1939 and went to Jackson to study cosmetology. She got a job in Ann Arbor and moved there where she lived with her cousins. There she met and fell in love with Bob Pittman, the love of her life.
During the war, she went to work at the Bomber Plant in Willow Run making B-24s that her husband later flew. She and Bob were married at Midland Army Air Base in Midland, Texas, in June 1943. Betty moved with Bob to 11 different military assignments before they settled in Ann Arbor where their five children grew up. The family moved to Menominee in the Upper Peninsula in 1966 where they lived for eight years.
When Bob changed jobs and began working for the FAA in the Chicago area, Betty got her associate degree in education and library science. After having devoted her life to her now grown family, she got a job in a school library. Following four years there, they relocated to New Hampshire where they resided for six years.
After years of planning, Betty and Bob built their dream retirement home on Beaver Island where they had summered since 1963. The 10 years from 1984 to 1994 were busy years as they had an almost self-sufficient farm of 20 acres with livestock. From Beaver Island they made the short relocation to Charlevoix where they have lived since 1994.
No matter where they resided, Betty always was an avid volunteer in school, church and community whenever she was needed. All of her 93 years her first thoughts were for her husband of 71 years and her children.
She is the last surviving member of her family. She was preceded in death by her son, Bob, in 1963, and her son-in-law, Joerg, who just passed on her last birthday in November.
Betty is survived by her husband, Bob; children, Marilee Pittman-Rothaupt of Germany, Patt Dworkin (Bob) of Dallas, Phil Pittman of Charlevoix and Joanne Pittman of Clare; grandchildren, Helena James Moore (Matt) of Mount Pleasant, Larissa James McGinnity (Patrick) of Beaver Island, Meghan (Derek) Dworkin McClain of West Warwick, R.I., Erin Dworkin Santos (Rob) of Nashua, N.H., and Rob Dworkin of Rhode Island; and six great-grandchildren, Sydney, Colin and Nathan Moore and Lysander, Leif and Killian McGinnity.
She will be remembered by all for her gentle spirit, diligent working attitude, lady-like demeanor, uncomplaining character, steadfast disposition and fighting spirit.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. today, Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix, where the rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at St. Maryâ??s Church in Charlevoix, with the Rev. Matthew Wigton officiating. Burial will take place in St. Maryâ??s Cemetery in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made to Food For The Poor, P.O. Box 979005, Coconut Creek, FL 33097-9005.
www.foodforthepoor.com
Sign Bettyâ??s guestbook at
www.winchesterfuneralhome.com .