NORMAN — Earnest Harold Pitman, 87, died Feb. 22, 2013, in Norman.
Services will be 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Wadley’s Funeral Chapel.
Earnest was born April 18, 1925, in Durant to Jess and Lizzie (Renfroe) Pitman. He was raised and attended school in Henryetta. He was inducted into the United States Navy on Dec. 18, 1941.
Earnest married Ella Mae Suchar in Arizona in 1949. He retired from the Navy, after 21 years of service, on Aug. 1, 1963. Earnest and Ella made Norman their home in the 1960s. Earnest took a job with the Norman Public Schools doing maintenance until his retirement.
Earnest enjoyed working with his hands, doing carpentry and gardening. He also enjoyed reading, dancing, fishing, golf and playing cards.
Earnest was preceded in death by his parents, Jess and Lizzie Pitman; wife of 48 years, Ella Mae in 1995; second wife, Jean Pitman in 2006; son, James Pitman; stepdaughter, Robin Rose; sister, Jessie Ruth; son-in-law, Willie Rames; and brothers-in-law Adam McCroskey and Jerry Cooper.
Survivors include his son, Mike Pitman and wife Cathy; daughters Joyce Lesnow, Dorothy Rames, Ora Hopper and husband Rick, Gale McCarrell and husband Rick, Winnie Mae Bjork and husband Charles, Jamie Rebelez and husband Herve and Joye Allen; brother, David Pitman and wife Rachel; sisters Marie Cooper and Helen McCroskey; 21 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Interment will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery in Ft. Gibson under the direction of Wadley’s Funeral Service.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to the Christmas Store of Cleveland County.
Norman Transcript, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013
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