KILMARNOCK—John V. Pittman, 98, of Kilmarnock, passed away in peace on November 3, 2021. He was born in Reedville to John Bunion and Annie Virginia Pittman on May 4, 1923.
He was an avid waterman and worked for Smith Fisheries as a licensed diesel engineer for 22 years.
Like many other young men, he joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor and served until the war ended and then returned to the Northern Neck.
John married Gertrude Elizabeth Lawson in 1947.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gertrude; brothers, Stanley and Bill; and sister, Earla Price.
Pittman worked on the water for many years as an engineer, an oysterman, crabber and pleasure fisherman.
He was a very devoted member of White Stone Baptist Church and was a Mason for 73 years.
After working on the water, he ran a used car lot in Burgess, then Kilmarnock to U Hauls, and after retiring, decided to grow the largest garden in Indian Creek. While that was not enough, he went back to work as the relief engineer on the Surry Ferry for another eight years.
He had two pleasure boats in the years after that retirement. The Songbird was a favorite for the gang to spend time on the bay together. Pittman and his best buds fished until they decided that falling was not an option and gave it up slowly for safety’s sake. Ninety years old was time to give up boating.
John is survived by his only son, John H. Pittman (Cindy); grandson, Ben (Melanie) of Ferrum; and three great-grandchildren whom he did have the pleasure to know quite well, Avery, 12, Rhett, 7, and Kye , 5.
Graveside services will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, November 14, at White Stone Baptist Church Cemetery. Family will receive friends at Currie Funeral Home, Kilmarnock, from 1-2 p.m. on the same day with a Masonic Service at 2 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to White Stone Baptist Church, P.O. Box 45, White Stone, VA 22578.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
