Loraine Anderson Pitman

Loraine Anderson Pitman, 96, of Indianapolis, IN, formerly from Waverly, Illinois, died December 21, 2017 at Robin Run Assisted Living in Indianapolis, IN. She was born November 10, 1921, in Loami, Illinois, the daughter of John M. and Leona Conlee Anderson.

She is survived by 4 sons, Steven, Col. Robert (U.S. Army Retired), Captain Gregory (U.S. Navy Retired), and Christopher; one daughter, the Rev. Ann L. Pitman; 17 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Loraine, lived at 4-H House while attending the University of Illinois, and was the 1^st woman editor of the University of Illinois Agriculturist, graduating in the class of 1943. She married W. Franklin “Frank” Pitman in June of 1943.  In 1944, Frank was called to active duty in the U.S. Army. Frank served as an Active Duty Army Chaplain for 28 years, retiring in 1972. During that time Loraine became “Mrs. William F. Pitman.” Loraine became very adept at packing up the household as they moved many times while raising their children and seeing the world.

While living in Karlsruhe, Germany Loraine was a pioneer in Refugee resettlement, becoming very sensitive to cultural differences and the need to respect that everyone’s ways were different, not good or bad, just different. Everywhere the family lived Loraine was active in the local community and outreach especially in Germany and Okinawa. While in Okinawa she taught English at the University of the Ryukyus, inviting her students into the Pitman family home to share holidays and learn about our customs even as we were invited into theirs.

When Frank retired from the Army in 1972, they moved to California and both earned their Masters degrees in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from Azusa Pacific University in 1973.  Someone once told her that it was then that she stopped being “Mrs. William F. Pitman” and became “Loraine.”

In 1976 Loraine and Frank were called as the Co-Directors of Family Education for the Disciples of Christ (Christian) Church in Indianapolis, IN. They were truly partners in ministry as they taught Marriage Communication Labs, Grief Seminars, and Sex Education Classes all over the country. They trained leaders in 17 different denominations as well as Inter-Faith. During that time Loraine became a licensed pastor in the church, making them one of the early “clergy couples.” Though she might not have called herself a feminist she certainly believed in equal rights for women, gay rights, and advocated for mental health services wherever she lived and to whomever she could.

In 1984 Frank and Loraine moved back to her family farm in Waverly, IL where they continued to serve the church as co-pastors, serving 5 different interim pastorates in Illinois, the last one at Parkway Christian Church in Springfield. During those years Loraine became an avid quilter, hand piecing everything from miniature quilts to baby quilts to bed size quilts. In 1997 they returned to Indianapolis to live at Robin Run Retirement Village.

Loraine was preceded in death by Frank in 2000, son John in 2013, one grandchild, and one great-grandchild. Funeral Services will be held at Parkway Christian Church, 2700 Lindbergh Blvd., Springfield, IL, on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 1 pm with Visitation beginning at noon. Interment will be at Waverly East Cemetery in Waverly, Illinois following the service. A Memorial Service will be held at Robin Run Village, Community Room in Indianapolis on Saturday, January 27 at 1 pm. Flanner Buchanan – Zionsville, IN with Neece-Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in Waverly, IL assisting.

Memorials may be made to Heritage Fund at Robin Run, 5354 W. 62nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268; the Rescue Squad, Waverly, IL; or the Charlotte Castle Neal Scholarship, In honor of the 4-H House Class of 1943, c/o Teri Travis, 2061 County Road, Thomasboro, IL  61878.