David Vernon Pittenger

My family was a member of Oak Cliff Presbyterian when David returned to his home church to be Christian Education minister. I was only eleven, but he treated me with great respect and we had many wonderful talks. He was a "touchstone" as I passed through my adolescence. I have thought of him often over the years since then, having only seen him a few times since I grew up and left Dallas. I will always consider him my first "mentor". He was a gentle, caring person. My sympathy to Martha and...

David's patient heart and brilliant mind have been an inspiration to many, and in particular to me. His concern, his humor, his joy in meeting people, and his ever-pastoral way will always epitomize for me the best in humanity. He and I got to know each other at East Dallas Christian Church in the 90s, serving together in worship and music ministries, as well as through the School of Theology for the Laity and the Greater Dallas Community of Churches. His wisdom guided STL's Board through...

David Pittenger was an outstanding Pastor and community leader. He was well respected for his involvement in many activities that benefitted the area and its citizens. He will be missed.

Sincere condolences to the entire Family.

Bill Melton

I had the opportunity to get to know David Pittener through a college youth group at First Presbyterian Church in Lubbock Texas. We shared a lunch together and soon realized that he knew all of my mother's family, the Speakers, in Dallas. A special memory is of a story he shared at his last gathering with our youth group in Lubbock. He spoke of a person he met when he was starting out as a youth minister in Dallas. He admired how she interacted with people that she met and seemed so...

When I came to Grace Presbytery, David took me under his wing to show me where to buy my house. He met me for lunch several times to support me in ministry and teach me from his history and passion for Oak Cliff.

I was blessed by my brief time with him. He will be dearly missed by me and my congregation.

David & I shared an interest in science and religion. I will always cherish our all too brief friendship and our discussions. It was my great honor to be one of his physicians. May the love of Christ comfort his family in this time of sorrow.

I will never forget the work that 'Vern' did throughout my life, as my Pastor and friend as consoler prior to and then officiating at my wedding. All those powerful sermons - bringing the Word and teaching His disciples! I remember going to his house and the whole room would be full of some powerful classic or opera - with those giant Arkansas Speakers. What a gift David was to his fellow man! I love him and regret only the time and distance that separated us. I look forward to joining him in...

I feel lucky to have had the opportunity in life to have met someone as special as David. He played a major role in my spiritual development and helped shape my theology in many ways. Every time I think of David I think of the many small conversations we had about our faith and our understanding of the world. During my college years I was exploring my own personal understanding of God and David was always there to listen and to share with me of his own life and to help me articulate my faith...

David was youth director at HPPC when I was in high school. I have seen him off and on since then. A wonderfully kind and listening person. One of the last times I saw him was our visit to his church which was in, I think, Little Rock, AR. He was doing a marvelous job as interim pastor. We will all miss him.