Robert “Bob” C. Pittman, age 88 of Astoria, IL, passed away at 10:30 am on Friday, October 12, 2018 at his home. He was born on March 23, 1930 to Arthur and Leta (Mellier) Pittman, the 4th of 8 children.
Bob graduated from Cuba High School, Cuba, IL, where he participated in 4H and FFA, earning the State Farmer Award. He graduated from McPherson College with a BS Degree in Industrial Arts and from the University of Illinois where he earned his Masters Degree in Vocational Education.
He married Marianne Rhoades on July 24, 1955 in Astoria, IL. She survives. They have three children by birth, Oralea Anne Pittman of Bellefontaine, OH, Paul Arthur (and Julie) Pittman of Woodside, CA and their daughters, Allison and Catherine, and Rhonda Kathleen (and Mark) Gingrich of Minneapolis, MN, and their daughters Sophia and Addison, Bob and Marianne’s family was enlarged and enriched by An and the late Hoa Tran, Vietnamese refugees who adopted them as their mother and father and gave them two more grandchildren, Huy (and Shama) Tran, and their son Arjun, and Linda (and Jorge) Lopez and their two children Lucas and Liliana.
Bob is also survived by two sisters, Barbara Miller of Astoria, IL and Elizabeth Gramm of Nashville, TN, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his four brothers, Howard, Richard, Charles, and Arthur “Jack” Pittman and one sister Marilea Kessler.
Bob taught school for 27 years, 25 of them in Vocational Building Trades, building houses with students.
He was active in the Church of the Brethren where he held leadership positions at the local, district, and denominational level. He worked with the Church of the Brethren Disaster Ministries where he served in many states directing the work of volunteers helping in the recovery following a disaster. His teaching experience was valuable in this work. He served as a trainer for other project directors and served as Interim Director of Brethren Disaster Ministries from January 1999 to June 1999.
Bob worked as the supervisor of volunteers in the building of churches, parsonages, and church camp facilities.
His hobbies included traveling, wood crafts (especially turning rolling pins), and collecting antique tools.
Services will be held on Wednesday, October 17th at 11:00 am at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria, IL. Reverends Ed Woodard, Lisa Fike, and Dan Cole will officiate. Visitation will take place from 5-8 pm on Tuesday, October 16th at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Woodland Cemetery, Astoria, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Brethren Disaster Ministries, 601 N. Main, PO Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776-0188 or Camp Emmanuel, PO Box 557, Astoria, IL 61501
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