Diana Pittman

Obituary of Diana Elizabeth Pittman

Diana Elizabeth Pittman, 87, passed away on September 15, 2022.  She was born on July 25, 1935 in Bradenton, Florida to William Marion Duncan and Ina Mae Hall Duncan.  She was an only child.  Her father always said, “I wanted a baseball team but I ended up with a scorekeeper”.    That scorekeeper was dearly loved. 

She graduated from Manatee High School in 1953 and from Florida State University in 1957.

In 1961, she went on a blind date with Charles Pittman.  Their first date was a bridge game (she wasn’t very good).  He took her fishing on the second date.  Diana caught a bigger fish than he did, so she was the real catch.  They were married three months later in Bradenton, on September 23, 1961.  They made their first home in Gainesville and moved to Tampa in 1963 where they joined First Baptist Church.

Diana lived her life with a servant’s heart.  She lived her life selflessly, sharing God’s love to everyone.  She was a Girl Scout leader, classroom helper, Sunday School and AWANA teacher, and GA leader.  She sang in the church choir (keeping a watchful eye on her children from the risers).  For over 20 years she worked behind the scenes on mission trips.  She enjoyed arranging flowers from the sanctuary for the shut-ins and created the RoadRunners group that provided transportation to the shut-ins. 

She was the Classroom Memaw for hundreds of elementary school students; baking cookies, having tea, sewing pillows, and dressing up as Ms. Rumphius.  The children adored her and were always excited to see her.  They yelled “Mrs. Memaw” whenever they saw her.

She kept up with our whereabouts on Life 360 and FlightAware.  She knew our plane had landed before we did.   If she noticed you speeding, you’d receive a phone call.

It brought her great joy to take care of her friends and family.  Every meal she cooked was planned and prepared with love. 

Her high school class superlative, “wittiest”, was most accurate.  Her quick wit and humor kept us laughing all the time.   We will miss the laughter she brought to our lives.

Even during Covid lockdowns she continued to encourage others with words of kindness through notes and phone calls.   She served wherever she could.

Her favorite Casting Crowns song was “Loving My Jesus” (by Mark Hall and Matthew West).  The last verse reflects our Memaw’s life:

When all is said and done, When my last song's been sung, I stand face to face with the one Who gave all for me, May all I have to show, Be all that mattered most, Making Your great name known, Let this be my only legacy

Loving my Jesus, Showing my scars, Telling my story of how mercy, Can reach you where you are, And I pray the whole world hears, The cry of my heart, Is to see all the ones I love, All the ones I love, Loving my Jesus

 

She is survived by her children: 

Susan Dose (Mark) of McDonough, GA

Beth Jennings (Doug) of Piedmont, SC

Linda Pittman of Tampa

Karen Hegemeier of Tampa

 

Her grandchildren:

CB Jennings (Kathryn) of Greenville, SC

Neal Dose (Jessica) of McDonough, GA

Nathan Dose (Yvonne) of Franklin, TN

Charlsey Jennings of Yokosuka, Japan

 

Her great-grandchildren:

Mary Logan Dose, Ellie Ann Dose, Allie Mae Jennings, and Sophie Jennings

 

Her nieces and nephews:

Jimmy O’Donnell, Debbie Wenger, Pat (Sweetie) Rogers, and Janis (Larry) Connell.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, granddaughter, Savannah Elizabeth Jennings, and her nephews, Douglas Connell and Tommy O’Donnell.

Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Tampa Missions, 302 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL  or to Samaritan's Purse Gift by visiting www.samaritanspurse.com

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Sunday
18
September

Funeral Service

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sunday, September 18, 2022
First Baptist Church of Tampa
302 West Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, Florida, United States
Tuesday
20
September

Interment

11:00 am
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Florida National Cemetery
6502 SW 102nd Avenue
Bushnell, Florida, United States
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