Gene Pitman

Gene Pitman, 80, died peacefully in his home in Evendale, Ohio, at 11:51 a.m. on Friday. He had suffered a long bout with cancer. Gene was born in Science Hill, Kentucky on October 18, 1934, son of the late Luther Pitman and Edna Waddle Gaddis. He leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Juanita Adams Pitman; four children, Terry Pitman (Jayne) of Burgin, KY, Kim Boyd (Scott) of Blanchester, OH, Brian Pitman (Nicole) of Wyoming, OH and Michael D. Pitman (Christy) of Cincinnati, OH; grandchildren Seth Pitman, Brody Pitman, Stefanie Whitney (Doug), Travis Boyd, Noah Pitman, Brooke Pitman, Sierra Steinwert, Tristan Pitman, Aubrey Pitman, Emma Pitman and Sophia Pitman; sister, Ivadean Warren of Science Hill and sister-in-law Zella Caudill, of Fairfield, OH; sister-in-law Angeline Hodge; and scores of nephews and nieces, including Jackie Haggard, Gary Haggard (Patty), Brenda Fields, Karen Hornsby, Vicki Lucas (Jim), Judy Haste (Hershel), Linda Hale (John), Larry Warren (Sherry), Danny Adams, Nancy Lothes (Ralph), Bobby Adams, Donna Collins, Judy Moshél (Dan), Tommy Adams, Harold Adams, Geraldine (Barry) Owens. He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther Pitman and Edna Waddle Gaddis; great aunt and great uncle Mack and Jennie Wesley; sister Sue Young; sister and brother-in-law Loraine and Woodrow Adams; brother-in-law William Warren; nephew-in-law Noel Hornsby; brother-in-law Jack Haggard Sr.; brother-in-law Dave Caudill; brother-in-law Marion Adams (Irene); brother-in-law Jim Adams (Marie); brother-in-law Frankie Adams; brother-in-law Fred Adams (Dorothy); sister-in-law Buelah Adams; brother-in-law Bass Hodge; sister-in-law Lela Adams; niece Monica Haste; and nephews Michael Adams, Doug Young and Kerry Joe Fields. Gene was called many things in his lifetime, but the names that most reflected his nature, personality and spirit were: Dad, Pap, Papaw, Mr. P, Coach P. and of course, Mr. Wyoming. The prayers, thoughts, comments and the visits meant so much to his family, and they cannot thank the community enough. The family is not bound by blood; it’s embedded in the soil of Wyoming. It includes everyone who Gene coached, took in his red pickup truck to knothole baseball games, and the many who received a football game tape he filmed. He never met a stranger. Gene was inducted into the Wyoming High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006, and the filming booth at the athletic field was dedicated in his honor that night. Other honors include the key to the city of Cincinnati and the Fred Hutchinson Award and threw out the first pitch of a Cincinnati Reds game in 1986. He was also a member of the Wyoming Masonic Lodge #186 and worked at Proctor & Gamble for 37 years, retiring in 1995. He was also a long-time member of Trinity Baptist Church in Hartwell. He also drove the school bus for Wyoming, worked at the Wyoming Civic Center and worked as a greeter at the Evendale Walmart. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, March 5, 2015 at Morris & Hislope Funeral Home with Rev. T.J. Godby and Bro. Norman Harper officiating. Burial will be in West Science Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 PM to 7:30 PM Wednesday at Morris & Hislope Funeral Home. If desired, people may make donations in Gene Pitman’s memory to the Wyoming Youth Service Bureau, 800 Oak Ave, Wyoming, Ohio 45215. Morris & Hislope Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.