RV Pittman

RV Pittman passed away on September 4, 2025, in Brenham, Texas, at the age of 94. Born on November 17, 1930, in Bogata, Texas, to Thad and Minnie Belle Pittman, he moved to Houston during World War II with his family. He attended public school in Houston, graduating from Reagan High School in 1948, and went on to study at the University of Houston.

RV served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, launching a career in electronics through his service in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. He worked on fighter jets at Ellington Field in Houston, and he met his wife, Dora, while both were employed by American Telephone and Telegraph Company. They were married on February 6, 1954, at Dora’s family home.

The couple began their family in Houston with the birth of their two sons, Alan and Richard. They briefly relocated to Colorado for one year while RV continued his military service, before returning to Houston. In 1960, RV was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant in the 147th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

Following his military career, RV worked for RCA on a radar base in Alaska during the Cold War. The family remained in Houston until 1962, when RV was transferred to New Jersey. Dora joined him there with Alan and Richard, and their third son, Michael, was born during that time. Shortly after Michael’s birth, RV was reassigned back to Alaska. Dora and the children returned to Houston, living near her parents, before reuniting with RV in Alaska in 1965. Shortly thereafter, their daughter Catherine was born. After two years in Alaska, the family settled in Brenham, where they built a home on land they had purchased early in their marriage.

In 1968, RV began a long and distinguished career as an Electronic Engineering Technician in the Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M, retiring in 1995. His work took him across the globe aboard oceanographic research ships, where he operated and repaired electronic instruments used in marine studies. He also designed and built computers to operate specialized scientific instruments that collected ocean data via satellite. His travels spanned the South Atlantic near Chile, Argentina, and Antarctica, as well as the North Sea, Mediterranean, Africa, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, and the South Pacific.

In retirement, RV devoted his time to caring for his grandchildren, raising cattle, mowing and baling hay in the summer, and solving crossword puzzles. RV was an avid Brenham Cub fan, cheering on his children and grandchildren at their games. A proud Texas Aggie and Astros fan, he rarely missed a chance to watch a football or baseball game.

RV was a long-standing member of the Meyersville Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as treasurer. He played a key role in equipping the department by constructing the body of a wildland brush truck in his home workshop.

Above all, RV’s greatest joy was being a devoted and loving husband and father. He unconditionally loved his wife Dora, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. RV will be sorely missed by all his family.

RV was preceded in death by Dora, his beloved wife of 69 years; his parents, Thad and Minnie Belle Pittman; in-laws, Andrew and Bertie Scholes; brothers-in-law, Alex and Owen Scholes; great-grandson Wyatt Schroeder; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.

RV is survived by his daughter Catherine; sons Alan (spouse Martha), Richard (spouse Clemencia), and Michael (spouse Lori); and brother-in-law Andrew Scholes (spouse Joanne). He is survived by nine grandchildren: Ashlea (spouse Justin), Megan (spouse Chris), Joshua (spouse Charly), Angela (spouse Alamex), Kyle (spouse Casey), Carlee (spouse Courtney), Brooke (spouse John), Alex (spouse Leslie), and Julia (spouse Isaac). Also surviving RV are nine great-grandchildren: Jacob and Ella Schroeder, Lena, Cora, and Jensen Ruemke, Charlie and Oliver Schramme, Alana Martinez, and future great-granddaughter Vierus.

The graveside service for RV Pittman will be held Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 11:00 am at Independence Cemetery.  Pastor Troy Sikes will officiate.  A visitation with RV's family will be at Memorial Oaks Chapel from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Wednesday, September 10, 2025. 

Pallbearers will be Joshua Ruemke, Kyle Pittman, Alex Pittman, Justin Schroeder, Chris Schramme, Alamex Martinez, John Vierus, and Isaac Schauer. Honorary pallbearers will be Jacob Schroeder, Charlie and Oliver Schramme, Jensen Ruemke, and all firefighters of the Meyersville Fire Department.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Meyersville Fire Department.