Emmett James Pittman of Victoria passed away on February 14, 2017 at the age of 90. He was born to Edward D. Pittman and Willie McCurry Pittman on February 9, 1927 at the family home in the Levi Sloan community in Victoria County.
Emmett is survived by his wife, Margaret Schumann Pittman; his son and daughter-in-law, Les and Sandy Pittman; three grandchildren: Tricia Pittman Meiser, Kyle and Alice Pittman, and Jared Pittman and Leah Laben; seven great grandchildren: Zoe Pittman, Zaida Meiser, Ellie and Caroline Pittman, Clark, Linus and Warner Laben-Pittman; family by choice Linda & Daryl Koliba; and a large extended family and numerous friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Darrell Pittman; daughter-in-law, Paula Girt Pittman; his parents; and his siblings—G.C. Pittman, Amanda Elizabeth Atkinson, Otis Pittman, Richard Pittman, and infant sister, Mary Alice Pittman.
Like many children born in 1927, he experienced many changes during his life. He recalled the coming of electric power, the telephone, and refrigeration to the family homestead and weekend travel into Victoria for food and supplies. He recalled when the Hallettsville Highway right-of-way was first fenced and used for cattle grazing until actual roadway construction began years later. He was an avid automobile enthusiast and followed the developments in engines and power trains most of his life.
He attended Levi Sloan School through the 9th grade, often riding to school on a horse. He attended Patti Welder High School and graduated in 1943 after completing the 11th grade.
Emmett was a steady, dedicated and reliable worker. He worked as an Auto Mechanic at Stockbauer & Stanzel Garage (1943 to 1945) and, after his military discharge, continued at Stockbauer & Zeplin Buick (1947 to 1961). To secure better pay and benefits for his family, he joined the Victoria DuPont Chemical Plant in 1962 as in instrumentation mechanic. He “retired” from DuPont in 1987, then continued to work in his former position with the Victoria Oxi Chem and Cain chemical plants until his permanent retirement in 1989.
He was drafted into the US Army on May 14, 1945. He completed Basic Training at South Camp Hood (now Fort Hood). He was assigned to Fort Ord (California) and Fort Lewis (Washington), from whence he departed in November 1945 for Nagasaki, Kyushu Island, Japan, where he worked as a motor pool mechanic on a wide variety of vehicles and equipment. On October 29, 1946, he departed Yokohama, Japan for San Francisco. He moved to Oakland and then Camp Beale at Marysville, CA for discharge. His official discharge date was December 24, 1946.
After his discharge, he returned to Stockbauer and Zeplin where he met Margaret Schumann. They married on January 22, 1951 and were married for 66 years. They had two children-- Les Pittman of Austin & Bryan, and Darrell Pittman of Victoria (who passed away in 1979 as the result of a motorcycle accident).
Throughout his life, Emmett was known for writing short stories about family, friends, coworkers, local history, and reminisces of the past. He used a distinctive style of prose that led to the publication of several of his stories. He also spent many hours in his wood working shop creating useful and decorative items. He enjoyed using wood such as that from a box elder tree grafted from a tree located on the Levi Sloan homestead. He was an avid reader of Texas Ranger History. He loved Cow Pokes and Dennis the Menace cartoons, and Lewis Grizzard and Louis L’Amour books.
Emmett was a member of Our Lady of Victory Cathedral, the Knights of Columbus, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a long-time volunteer to the Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry (VCAM). He was proud to have been a donor of 16 gallons (128 pints) of blood to the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.
In his later years, Emmett and Margaret lived at Copperfield Village. There, he served as the doorman at the clubhouse for noon and evening meals until he was replaced by technology and the automatic doors. He also provided close supervision of the landscaping crews and the periodic construction projects. His last 3 years were spent at the Carriage Inn community in Bryan.
Come and reminisce with us about Emmett at a visitation at Rosewood Funeral Chapels in Victoria from 4 to 6 pm on Friday, February 17. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Rosewood Funeral Chapels at 1:30 on Saturday, February 18 with burial with military honors to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 300 W. Red River in Victoria. Pallbearers will be Tricia Pittman Meiser, Zoe Pittman, Kyle Pittman, Daryl Koliba, Gerald Adcock, Rick Pittman and Rudy Toerck. Honorary pallbearers will be Jared Pittman (Ithaca, NY), Bill Baker (Spring, TX) and Joe Lambert (Cuero, TX).
The family asks that you do not send flowers, but instead consider a gift to: Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry, 108 N Liberty St, Victoria, TX; the Wounded Warrior Project, 12672 Silicon Dr # 105, San Antonio, TX 78249; blood donation to the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center; or the charity of your choice.
Share words of comfort at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
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