Carol Pittman

Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Carol (West) Pittman, 76, of Rio Rancho, NM and a former longtime resident of Oak Park, IL passed away on April 18, 2013. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines, IA with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Carol was born January 28, 1937 in Des Moines, IA to Carl and Alice West. A 1959 graduate of Drake University, Carol taught in Des Moines, IA, Chinon, France, Lake Mills, IA and Oak Park, IL. She taught everything from preschool level to GED prep for military personnel. In 1960, Carol married Phil in Chinon, France. A blind date was set up for them to attend the Drake Relay’s Dance and the two of them had been happily married for 52 years. Drawing upon her own experience as a Girl Scout, Carol volunteered to be the cookie chairman of her daughter’s Brownie troop. Girl Scouting became a passion and she ultimately rose to the position of president of a Girl Scout council, serving 14 suburbs of Chicago. In 2002 Carol received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Girl Scouts of America. Carol was always involved with her church, having served many positions in the congregations to which she belonged. She had recently transferred her membership to the High Desert United Methodist Church in Rio Rancho. For many years Carol volunteered in the toy department at The Economy Shop in Oak Park, a resale shop benefiting six local charities.

Her love and passion for life was evident throughout her family activities and volunteer service.

She is survived by her husband, Phil; three children, Michael (Tara) of Albuquerque, NM, Michelle (Tony) of Owatonna, MN and Douglas (Janice) of Minneapolis, MN; seven grandchildren; and a sister, Bonnie. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister, Sandra.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association of New Mexico, 9500 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Suite 121, Albuquerque, NM 87111 in Carol’s honor or to a charity of the donor’s choice.