William Henry Pittman, 92, known as Henry or Mr P., died April 20, 2015 after a brief illness. He was born March 26, 1923, to Henry Lee and Ida Lancaster Pittman. Henry’s father died when he was a baby.
At the age of three he went to live in the Barium Springs Children’s Home. He loved the orphanage where he met many lifelong friends including his wife, May, who passed away in 2005.
He was a star football player in high school and attended Davidson College on a full scholarship.
On Christmas Day in 1942, Henry and May were married. Henry joined the Army in 1943 and served in the South Pacific in WWII in the 439 Engineering Depot Company.
Henry retired from Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, where he worked for many years as an electrician. Henry was a kind and gentle man. He loved his family and friends and could be seen eating at Bullock’s BBQ at least three nights a week. He always had a smile and a hug for anyone he met.
Henry is survived by his sister, Alyce Willoughby (95); his three sons and their wives, Lee and Kay Pittman of El Cajon, CA, Mike and Jill Pittman of Sneads Ferry, NC, and Kerry and Charlie Pittman of Denver, NC; his grandchildren, Martin Hicks and Karen Carden; and his great-granddaughter, Daphne Carden.
A graveside service with be held at Maplewood Cemetery, Friday, April 24th at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Henry’s favorite charity, Children’s Hope Alliance a.k.a. Barium Springs Children’s Home, PO Box 1, Barium Springs, NC 28010.
The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral Service, Inc., in Durham, NC. Online condolences may be made at www.clementsfuneralservice.com.