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BORN
1939
DIED
2011
Sharon Pittman Obituary
A graveside service at Chico Cemetery will be held for Sharon LaVerne Pittman on Friday, January 14, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. under the auspices of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home. Viewing for friends and family is from 7 - 9 p.m. on Thursday evening, January 13, 2011 at the funeral home.
Sharon was born on August 7, 1939, in Idabel, Oklahoma, to Jesse R. and Bessie I. Pittman. The family lived in Oklahoma for a couple of years before moving for a short time to Chicago, Illinois, and then to Los Angeles. When World War II started, they moved to Oakland, California, where her father worked in the shipyards. Her sister Karen was born in 1945 and shortly after they moved to Portola, where her father started a 20-year career as a brakeman for Western Pacific Railroad.
Sharon attended Portola Elementary School and graduated from Portola Junior/Senior High School in 1957. She then entered Chico State College and majored in History, with the goal of being a high school teacher.
After finishing college, she taught at Chico High School for three years and then at Pleasant Valley High School for 33 years, until she retired in 1998. While at Pleasant Valley, Sharon taught mostly American History with some World History. She also developed and taught special quarter classes in the history of the Tudors and Stuarts in English history. At the time, Pleasant Valley was the only high school in California to offer these classes. In 2005 she received the Honored Teacher Award from the Chico Education Hall of Fame.
Over the years she enjoyed traveling to most of the United States and to Europe. She always loved being able to see the places where the history she enjoyed so much happened.
An extremely avid reader, Sharon read over a hundred books in most years and was a member of the local Chico Mystery Book Club. She was also a member of Alpha Delta Kappa educational sorority, and counted the meetings of her bunco group as one of her most enjoyable activities.
She is survived by her sister, Karen Pittman of Chico, and her sister-by-choice, Dorothy Reid, also of Chico. She leaves very close and treasured friends, Gwen Joslyn of Chico, her college roommate, Wendy Causer of Birmingham, England, and Nancy Wrinkle of Chico.
Donations in Sharon's honor can be made to the Friends of the Chico Library in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home.
You may share your thoughts and memories of Sharon online at nbcfh.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Sharon Pittman
Michelle Campau Lewis
January 14, 2011
I graduated from PV in 1987 and I still to this day talk about how much I love the class she taught on the history of Tudor / Stuart England. She had a kindness and passion for history that made her a wonderful teacher.
January 13, 2011
Miss Pittman was one of my favorite teachers at PVHS. She made history fun and I looked forward to her class everyday. I loved learning about the Tudors. Rest in Peace Miss Pittman. My thoughts go out to your family and Dorothy!
Todd Sturgis, Class of "88
January 13, 2011
I met Sharon
Joanne Lanzavecchia
January 13, 2011
Dear Sharon, She was a sweet lady who made her friends always feel like they were special to her. Sharon was a fellow ADK sister and we will miss her.
Marianne Jurgenson
January 13, 2011
I will miss you, Miss Sharon. I always looked forward to our visits when you came to get your nails done. You and Dorothy were and are so wonderful! You had a great sense of humor and even when things weren't funny you laughed uncontrollably. It made me laugh when you'd take off laughing. Rest in Peace, Sharon. Thank you for your friendship.
Bill Collins CHS '65
January 12, 2011
Miss Pittman was my teacher in 1963. She would say "hello" to you in the hall; friendly, approachable and a sense of humor, too. I'm truly sorry to read that she has left us.
January 11, 2011
she was the best teacher i ever had. she made history a living thing with alll the many off the wall stories she knew about some of our most famous people from the past. I looked forward to going to her class everyday. Rest in peace miss. Pitman...your were an amazing teacher who touched many lives....Marilyn Hendrix Kalvelage class of 70'
January 11, 2011
I remember Miss Pittman fondly @ PVHS when I was a student there from 1998-1990. May you rest in peace. Buffy Marsicano Treueblood
Cathy Bohannon
January 11, 2011
Sharon will be missed. I knew her only for a few years as I became a member of her bunco group and a friend of her sister, Karen. She was a kind and gentle lady who was always smiling. My co-worker, Karin, remembers her as a teacher that she paid attention to because she made history come alive. What a great compliment!
Diane Jones(Williams) PVHS '75
January 11, 2011
I'll never forget "Miss Pittman". She was a great teacher, and was always able to make us laugh. R.I.P., teach!
Edith Mazen Roberts
January 11, 2011
Miss Pittman was a true teacher in every sense of the word. Her kindness and genuine interest in her students was a gift to generations of Chico kids. When she was my teacher at PV in 1973, she was an example of someone who liked their job. She made learning fun for her students. May she rest in peace and God's grace be upon those she leaves behind.
Carolyn Hendrix -PVHS "71"
January 11, 2011
Miss Pittman was one of my favorite teachers at PVHS. She made history come alive and fun. Not only was she one of my teachers, but my daughter also had the privledge of knowing her when she attended PV many years later.
Gwen Smith
January 11, 2011
i remember miss pittman from high school 1963 and 64 at chico high she taught us very well
my middle daughter had her at pleasant valle high in the 80s good teacher sorry to hear she is gone
Bill Edmiston
January 11, 2011
I remember Miss Pittman as a friendly face with a kind word for all students.
Alberta Simic
January 11, 2011
Sharon was a role model for others. An active member of CUTA ,she was a mentor for the young people she taught. We all have lots of good memories of her and she will be missed.
Her humor is irreplaceable.
My thoughts are with her family and especially her sister by choice, Dorothy.
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