Shelby County Indiana
Obituaries
Pitts
The Shelbyville News
Monday, January 17, 2005
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Carroll S. Pitts Jr., 81, Morristown, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005.
Born May 17, 1923, Shelby County, s/o Carroll S. and Marie (Haehl) Pitts Sr.
Married Evelyn A. (Wicker) Reber, and she survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Thomas W. Reber (wife, Peggy) of Morristown and Gary “Ray”Reber (wife, Marcy) of Shelbyville; two daughters, Jerry Pitts (husband, Mark) of Indianapolis and Judy Fisher (husband, Dennis) of Dayton, Ohio; one sister, Gene Allender of Morristown; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by one brother, John O. Pitts; and one sister, Janice Pitts.
Lifelong Shelby County resident.
Mail carrier for Shelbyville and Morristown and a farmer in the Pitts Ford and Union Township areas, retiring in 1989.
Served on the Morristown Town Board from 1991 to 1995 and was instrumental in starting the sewer systems in Morristown and the Morristown Park.
U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving as a hospital corpsman.
Graduated in 1941 from Manilla High School.
Member of the Morristown United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 102, Masonic Lodge 193, Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis and Blue River Valley Amateur Radio Society.
Former member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, a Flying Farmer of America and Civil Air Patrol.
Masonic services:
Frazier Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Morristown.
Funeral:
Morristown United Methodist Church, 221 S. Washington St., Morristown, with the Rev. Kenneth Wooden officiating.
Burial: Asbury Cemetery in Morristown.
Contributions: Morristown United Methodist Church or the Morristown Boys and Girls Club, 219 E. Main St., Morristown, IN 46161.
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Shelbyville News
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
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Bessie “Betty” Pitts, 77 of Elizabethtown, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004, Columbus.
Born Nov. 16, 1926, in Shelby County, d/o David Andrew and Ellen (Woodall)
Stitt.
Married Hoyt C. Pitts on April 22, 1944, and he preceded her in death on Dec. 28, 1991.
Married Gene Pitts on Sept. 17, 2003, and he survives.
Other survivors include one son, Roger W. Pitts of Butlerville; one sister,
Joan Gunn of Indianapolis; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by one son, Steven Pitts; and three brothers,
Leroy Stitt, Don Stitt and Joseph Stitt.
Retired from Irwin Management in 1987.
Norman Funeral Home, 604 Main St. in Hope.
Burial: Flat Rock Cemetery, in Shelby County.
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Todd Funeral Home
July, 2004
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Endie Pitts,
94, of Knightstown, died July 28, 2004 at her residence.
Born Nov 27,1909 in
Kentucky, she was the daughter of Thomas & Laura Hamm Morrison.
She married Allie Pitts in 1924 and he passed away in
1981. She was a homemaker and devoted to her entire family. She had
also worked several years at the Dunreith Canning factory. She was a
member of the Crossroads Church of God in New Castle.
Survivors include:
Sons Eugene & Mary Pitts, Richard Pitts; Harold &
Carolyn Pitts, Leonard & Jo Ellen Pitts and Dale
& Jackie Pitts; daughters Jewel & Selbert Brades,
Betty Kise, Judy & Henry Neal and Mildred & Larry
Houser; brothers Walter & Archie Morrison; sisters
Alice Lemmings, Elsie Marcum, Cora Coons and Arsula Truitt; special
friend Dr. Barbara Horn; 25 grandchildren; 29 step grandchildren;
64 great grandchildren; 34 step great grandchildren; 22 great great
grandchildren; 6 step great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, 8 grandchildren; 2 step grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; 2
brothers & 1 sister.
Memorials may be made to
the Crossroads Church of God in New Castle, IN and Henry County Hospice.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Todd Funeral Home
July, 2002
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Odell L. Pitts, 78, of Carthage, passed away WED JULY 24, 2002 at Hancock
Memorial Hospital.
Born in Flemingsburg, KY on
Mar 27, 1924, he was the son of the late Fred and
Margaret (Fisher) Pitts. Mr. Pitts was a 1943 graduate of Carthage High School
and served during World War II in the U.S. Navy. On July 1, 1944 he married
Grace Magee, who survives. Mr. Pitts was a retired salesman and a photographer
having been employed by Interstate Studios. He was a member of Rush Lodge #580 F
& AM, Scottish Rite N.M.J. and the Knightstown American Legion.
Survivors include: wife - Grace of Carthage, IN; one son -
Larry Pitts of
Carthage, IN; two daughters - Mrs. Marilyn Kemple (husband-Phillip)
of Daytona
Beach, FL and Mrs. Jan Antosica (husband-John) of Port Orange, FL; one brother -
Ivan Pitts of Pendleton, IN; one sister -Thelma McRoberts of Knightstown, IN;
six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services will be held Monday,
July 29, 2002 at 10 a.m. at the Todd
Funeral Home, Carthage Chapel, with Rev. David Bonne officiating. Burial will
follow at Riverside Cemetery in Carthage, IN.
Friends may call Sunday,
July 28, 2002 from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Todd Funeral
Home, Carthage Chapel. The Rush Lodge will conduct a memorial service at 8 p.m.
Sunday at the funeral home.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Shelbyville News
Tuesday June 20, 1995
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Kenneth E. Pitts, 87, Aurora, died May 19 at his home. Former principal and teacher at Waldron High School.
Born Rush County June 17, 1907, son of Rev. Emory & Estella (Northam)
Pitts.
Married Margaret E. Small, who survives with two step-sons, Jerry
Kent, Aurora & Robert Kent, Simpsonville, South Carolina; a sister
Helen Stuckey, Greentown and five step-grandchildren.
He spent 44 years in the educational field, 20 years as Superintendent of Aurora Public Schools and 2 years as first superintendent of South Dearborn Community Schools.
Member of Indiana State Teachers Association; Dearborn Retired Teachers; First United Methodist Church, Aurora and Aurora Rotary Club and Paul Harris Fellow.
Filter Funeral Home, Aurora. Burial at Blue River Wesleyan Church Cemetery, Arlington.
Contributed and summarized by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville News
Monday November 29, 1982
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Mrs. Vera M. Pitts, 68, R.R.1, Manilla died 3 p.m. Sunday at Community Hospital, Indianapolis.
She had been ill and hospitalized six weeks.
Resident of Shelby County 40 years. Teacher for Shelbyville Central Schools for 13 years. Active in the Special Olympics program.
Born May 30, 1914 in Greenwood daughter of Roy & Edith (Spease)
Devore. Married Oct 11, 1940 John O. Pitts who died June 9, 1973.
Surviving two sons, Mark O. Pitts, R.R.1 Manilla and Lynn D.
Pitts, R.R.4, Shelbyville 3 grandchildren. A brother preceded in death.
Member Manilla Church of Christ, Retired Teachers Association, Association for Retarded Citizens and National Education Association. Member Board of Directors of Shares, Inc.; past matron Morristown Chapter OES; Alpha Delta Kappa, teacher’s sorority; Shelby Community Orchestra; and Shelby County Historical Society.
Carmony Funeral Home with burial Little Blue River Friends Cemetery.
Contributed and summarized by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville News
Saturday January 9, 1982
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L. Russell Pitts, 96, 16 St. Mary’s Street, died Friday at his home. Born Rush County March 31, 1885, son of
Joseph Milton and Aura (Swain) Pitts. Married Erdie Swain
who preceded in death in [July] 1948. Married August 20, 1949 to Floye Palmer Battin, who survives.
Also surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Warren (Blanche) Brown
of Shelbyville; a step-daughter, Mrs. Robert (Barbara) Black, Denver, Colorado; three grandsons,
Phillip W. Brown, Shelbyville; James R. Brown, Manilla and
Steven M. Brown, Newark, Delaware; four step grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and three step great grandchildren.
A sister and brother preceded him in death.
Carmony Funeral Home, Cremation.
Contributed and summarized by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville News
Tuesday March 12, 1974
PITTS RITES ARE THURSDAY
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Wendell H. Pitts, 89, R.R. Morristown died Monday at Rush Memorial Hospital, Rushville.
Resident of the Jackson Nursing Home, Rushville, four years.
Born Union township, Shelby County December 9, 1884, son of Henry C. and Florella E. (Rigsbee)
Pitts.
Graduated Spiceland Academy and Earlham College and a member of Little Blue River Friends Church.
Several cousins are the only survivors and two sisters preceded in death.
Carmony Funeral Home. Burial Blue River Friends Church Cemetery.
Contributed and summarized by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville News
Thursday February 8, 1973
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LOCAL MAN’S FATHER
DIED IN GREENSBURG
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W. A. Pitts, 92, R.R.1 Greensburg, father of Robert E. Pitts, Shelbyville, died today at Decatur County Hospital, Greensburg.
Survivors: sons, Robert Pitts, Shelbyville, Orville
Pitts, Greensburg; daughters, Mrs. Lena Foster and Mrs. Marlin P. (Lorena) Maddox Greensburg; 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren
Gilliland-Howe Funeral Home Greensburg, burial South Park Cemetery.
Contributed and summarized by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville News
Tuesday January 21, 1969
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DEATH CLAIMS LOIS PITTS, 85
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Miss Lois Vivian Pitts, 85, R.R.1 Morristown died Monday at 12:10 p.m. at the Heritage House Convalescent Center here.
Born Union township March 17, 1883 daughter of Henry Cicero and Florella Elizabeth (Rigsbee)
Pitts. Only immediate survivor a brother Wendell H. Pitts, R.R.1 Morristown.
One sister preceded in death.
Miss Pitts was a teacher at the Union Bible School in Westfield. Member of Westfield Friends Church and Little Blue River Friends Missionary Society.
Carmony Funeral Home, buried Little Blue River Friends Cemetery
Contributed and summarized by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville News
Tuesday December 28, 1965
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BEDFORD RITES HELD FOR LESLIE PITTS, 76
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Last rites were held Monday at Bedford for Leslie Pitts, 76, who died over the weekend.
Son of Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Pitts, former Shelby County residents, who preceded in death
A graduate of Bedford High School and Culver Academy. 2nd Lieutenant in the Army in World War I.
His son Robert, was killed in action in Germany in World War II.
Two sisters, Mrs. Edna Jones and Mrs. Ethel McCracken, preceded in death.
Survived by a daughter Mrs. Margaret (Pitts) Armstrong, five grandchildren and several relatives in Shelby County.
Contributed and summarized by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville News
Thursday September 30, 1965
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CARROLL PITTS DIES IN HOSPITAL
Rites Saturday For Ex-Union Township Trustee
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Carroll S. Pitts Sr., 76, R.R.1 Manilla, former Union Township trustee and county highway superintendent died Wednesday at 9:35 at Major Hospital.
He had been in failing health one month and hospitalized for two weeks.
Lifelong resident of Union Township and the owner of the Pittsford picnic grounds.
Served as Union trustee from 1934 to 1942, and served as inspector for the state highway department.
Member of Little Blue River Friends Church; Masonic Lodge F and A.M. No. 193 of Morristown.
Born Union township August 1, 1899 son of J. Milton and Aura (Swain)
Pitts. Married August 1, 1910 Marie Haehl, who survives. Also surviving are four children;
Carroll S. Pitts Jr.; John O. Pitts; Miss Janice A. Pitts and
Mrs. Claude (Gene) Allender, all of Manilla. A brother Russell L.
Pitts, Manilla and a sister Mrs. Lillian Sandford, Long Beach, California.
Carmony Funeral Home, Burial Little Blue River Friends Cemetery.
Contributed and summarized by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday July 7, 1948
Page 1 column 4
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MRS. PITTS, 63, DIES SUDDENLY
Rites Monday for Mother of Shelbyville Woman
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Mrs. Erdie S. Pitts, 63, wife of
L. Russell Pitts, died at 4:45 a.m. Saturday morning at her home in Union township.
Although she had been ill since April 1st her death was unexpected.
Born in Rush county January 4, 1885, she was the daughter of
John F. and Flora E. (Rigsbee) Swain. Mrs. Pitts was married to L. Russell Pitts on November 24, 1910
Mrs. Pitts graduated from the Arlington high school and was a member of the Little Blue River Friends Church.
Surviving are one daughter,
Mrs. Warren Brown of this city; two brothers, Roy Swain
and Gernie Swain of near Gwynneville, and two grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted at 2:00 p.m. Monday at the Little Blue River Friends church with Rev. N. I. Schoolfield and Rev. Abrahams officiating.
Burial in charge of D. E. Carmony was made in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the late home at any time after noon Sunday.
Contributed by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville Republican
Saturday August 12, 1939
Page 1 column 6
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J. M. PITTS, 85, HURT FATALLY
IN FALL FROM
TREE
Body Found in Orchard Friday,
Several Hours After Death;
Funeral to Be Sunday
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Head injuries received when he lost his balance and fell from a pole ladder while picking crab apples in an orchard at the rear of his home in Union township, caused the death of
Joseph Milton Pitts, 85 years old, retired farmer yesterday.
Mr. Pitts, according to Coroner Charles
Kohlmeyer, apparently had grasped a dead limb of the tree to steady himself when he began to fall.
The limb broke and he fell a distance of about ten feet to the ground. The body was found about one o’clock in the afternoon by
Mrs. Carroll S. Pitts, his daughter-in-law, who resides with her husband, the Union township trustee, on an adjoining farm.
The aged man had been dead four hours when the body was found, Coroner Kohlmeyer said.
Mr. Pitts was born December 14, 1854 in North Carolina, a son of
Branson and Luzena (Coffin) Pitts. He came to the Manilla community with his parents when he was a boy and attended the Shelby county schools and Valparaiso university.
He taught school in Kansas and in Shelby county for several years. Mr. Pitts was a life member of the Little Blue River Friends church.
His marriage to
Anna E. Swain of Shelby county took place on September 25, 1883.
She died 13 years ago. On November 29, 1929 he was married a second time to
Blanche Beecher. Survivors besides the widow are two sons, Russell
and Carroll S. Pitts, of Shelby County, a daughter, Mrs. Lillian Sanford
of Long Beach, New York, three brothers Emory and Lon
Pitts, of Shelby county and Lindley Pitts of Morristown and seven
grandchildren
The funeral will be held at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the late home in Union township.
Burial will be in the Little Blue River Friends cemetery, in charge of Ezra
Carmony.
Contributed by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday January 18, 1934
Page 1 column 4
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PITTS FUNERAL RITES SATURDAY
Two Children, Brother Survive Mrs. Florella Pitts, Who Died in Union Township
REV. YOUNGS TO OFFICIATE
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Mrs. Florella Elizabeth Pitts died at her home in Union township, south of Gwynneville, Wednesday morning at 8:40 o’clock.
She had been ill for several years and was at the time of death eighty years, nine months and three days old.
She had lived her entire life in Rush and Shelby counties, having resided at the home where she died for fifty years.
She was the daughter of Martin and Lucinda Barnard
Rigsbee, and in 1882, she was united in marriage to Henry Cicero Pitts, who passed away in 1912.
The deceased is survived by one son.,
Wendell, and one daughter, Lois V., both at home, and one brother,
Adrain Rigsbee, of Arlington, Indiana.
Mrs. Pitts was a member of the Little Blue River Friends church, where funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10:30 o’clock, with the Rev. Joseph Youngs, of Shirley, Indiana, officiating.
Burial will be in the Little Blue River Friends cemetery.
Contributed by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville Republican
Monday October 12, 1931
Page 1 column 1
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PASSED AWAY AT HOME OF SISTER
Death of Mrs. Stella N. Pitts
Follows Five Weeks Illness,
Occurred Near Manilla
LEAVES HUSBAND, CHILDREN
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Mrs. Stella N. Pitts, wife of the
Rev. Emory Pitts, who for the past three years has been pastor of the Lewis Creek Wesleyan Methodist church, died at the home of her sister,
Mrs. Eugene Macy, near Manilla, at 4:30 o’clock Saturday afternoon.
Mrs. Pitts had been ill for about five weeks. The death was due to a complication of diseases.
Mrs. Pitts was the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. J. Walter Northam. She leaves the husband, now of Kokomo, three children,
Esther and Helen, at home, and Kenneth E.
Pitts, of Waldron.
She also leaves three brothers,
Charles Northam, of Arlington; Chester Northam, also of Arlington and
Clarence Northam, of near Manilla, and four sisters; Mrs. Flora
Branson, of Carthage; Mrs. Ethel Hufford, of Rushville;
Mrs. Macy, at whose home she passed away, and Mrs. Mary Hester, of near Manilla.
Mrs. Pitts had been a member of the Wesleyan church, north of Manilla, since childhood and funeral services will be conducted there at ten-thirty o’clock Tuesday morning, with the Rev. W. L. Thompson, of Marion, officiating.
Burial will be at the church cemetery, with Carmony Brothers, funeral directors in charge.
Contributed by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville Republican
Wednesday March 30, 1927
Page 8 column 2
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MRS. PITTS DIES FROM PNEUMONIA
Death Occurs At Home Near Manilla at Six O’Clock This Morning
Taken Ill Last Thursday
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Mrs. Aura E. Pitts, age 68, wife of
Milton Pitts, died at six o’clock this morning at their home north of
Manilla. Death followed a short illness due to pneumonia with which she was taken ill last Thursday.
She had been in declining health for several months.
Mrs. Pitts was born in Shelby county June 9, 1858, and was the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Swain. On September 25, 1883, she was married to Mr. Pitts.
To them were born two sons and one daughter, all of whom with the father survive.
They are Russell and Carroll Pitts, both living north of Manilla, and
Mrs. Lillian Sanford, of Long Beach, California. Seven grandchildren also survive.
Held in high esteem by many friends, Mrs. Pitts was well known in her community and was a member of the Friends church, north of
Manilla. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Carmony Brothers, funeral directors in charge.
--------------------------------
Ibid
Thursday March 31, 1927
Page 3 column 7
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FUNERAL SERVICES
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Funeral services for
Mrs. Aura Eusebia Pitts, wife of Milton Pitts, whose death occurred Wednesday morning at her home, north of Manilla, will be held at eleven o’clock Friday morning at the Friends church, north of Manilla, with the Rev. Joe Young, of Marion, officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery in charge of Carmony Brothers.
Contributed by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville Republican
Friday June 28, 1912
Page 2 column 4
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DEATHS AND FUNERALS
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PITTS
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The two-months-old baby
[Julia Pauline] of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Pitts, of Morristown, died about 1 o’clock this afternoon of erysipelas.
The funeral arrangements have not as yet been made. Oak Morrison, of Morristown is in charge.
[Buried Blue River Friends Cemetery]
Contributed by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
The Shelbyville Republican
Saturday May 25 1912
Page 4 column 1
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DEATHS AND FUNERALS
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H. C. PITTS
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The funeral services of the late
H. C. [Henry Cicero] Pitts, who died at his home in Union township, Friday, will be held in the Friends church southeast of Gwynneville, Sunday morning at 10 o’clock and the burial will be made in the church cemetery.
Mr. Pitts was familiarly known as “Cicero.” He was aged 56 years.
Deceased was a sufferer from kidney trouble and had been sick for about two years.
He had achieved much success as a farmer, and was a man of ability in that line.
He was a member of the Quaker faith and was free to give to the cause of the church, living at all times the life of a Christian.
Mr. Pitts is survived by his wife and two children, a son and a daughter, both living at home.
He was a son of Branson and Luzena (Coffin) Pitts, who came to Shelby county from North Carolina in 1851 and was one of a family of ten children, three of whom have preceded him to the grave.
The surviving brothers and sisters are J. M., of Union township;
Mrs. Frank Worth, of Rush county; J. E., of Bedford, Indiana;
A. C. and R. E., of Hanover township; and Lindley H.
Pitts, of Union township.
Contributed by Barb Huff for Tammy Polston
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