Kenneth Wayne Pittman, 83, of Russellville passed away Jan. 21, 2022.
He was born Aug. 15, 1938, at Crawfordsville, to Roy Glenn Pittman and Edna Lucille Wasrud Pittman.
He was a 1956 graduate of Russellville High School, playing baseball and starring in basketball — in one game making 18 straight free throws. During high school, he worked on the farm for Carl Humphreys. After high school, he continued playing independent basketball and excelled as a pitcher in fast pitch softball. He enjoyed hunting quail and pheasant and bagged a trophy buck in 1971. He was an avid fisherman throughout the year, but especially when the silvers were running in late spring and ice fishing in the winter. He also enjoyed swimming, water skiing, gardening and beekeeping.
At 40 years old, he was diagnosed with and survived treatment for Hodgkins lymphoma, unlike his mother who succumbed to the same disease when Kenneth was only 9 years old.
He attended Purdue University and then worked at IBM in Greencastle before beginning his career at RR Donnelley & Sons in Crawfordsville in the CMS pressroom. In October 1961, he was drafted into the Army and served the majority of his time in Fort Hood, Texas, printing orders. After he and JFK saved the world during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was discharged and returned to RR Donnelley, retiring in November 1994.
Kenneth never married. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include: sister Charlene Logan, Russellville; niece Kendra Hartung (Bernie), Lexington, Kentucky; nephew Glenn Logan (Anna), Greencastle; great nephew Hunter Logan, Indianapolis; great niece Julie Jones (Michael), Lexington, Kentucky and great nephew Mike Hartung, Lexington, Kentucky.
He was always helping friends, neighbors, community and town with any projects, especially mowing yards, cutting trees, and sawing and splitting wood.
“Unc’s” final resting place is the Russellville Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome to gather for a memorial and military ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 25. Lunch will be served afterwards at the Russellville Community Center.
