Arnold Louis Pitman

CANTON - Arnold Louis Pitman, 70, Canton, died Sept. 18, 2014, after a brief hospitalization.
Arnold was the son of Otis and Elizabeth (Robinson) Pitman of Heath Springs, South Carolina, where he was raised. He spent his early adulthood in Southern California, where he met his wife of 47 years, Yancy (Seago) Pitman of Midland, Texas, before moving to Odessa, Texas, with his wife and daughters, Molly (Pitman) Ogden of Freeport, Maine, and Lynette (Pitman) Silva of Clinton, Massachussetts.
Always with a twinkle in his eye, Arnold lived a life of integrity, kindness, and care and concern for all. A dedicated and hard worker all his life, Arnold most loved the role he found at his daughter's junior high Christmas Orchestra concert - playing Santa Claus.
He would become Santa Claus every year for the next 30 years, delighting all with his own child-like spirit and enjoyment of the true spirit of Christmas - sharing the precious gift of the love of Jesus Christ with the young and the young at heart. He most enjoyed his volunteer work at the Crittenton Center for Children in Peoria and his annual appearances at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie, also in Peoria.
Arnold is survived by his wife, Yancy; daughter, Molly and her husband Mitch Ogden, daughter Lynette and her husband Paul Silva; his brother, Ellis and his wife Sarah (Franks) Pitman of San Juan Capistrano, California; his sister Carolyn Johnson and her husband Cecil of Lancaster, South Carolina; his grandchildren, Joseph Ogden and David Ogden of Freeport, Maine; and several beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
A celebration of life service will be at Temple Baptist Church, 10 Van Dyke Drive, Canton, on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.