Raymond Floyd Pitman Sr.

Raymond Floyd Pitman, Sr., 89, passed away on May 7, 2014 surrounded by his family. A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Resurrection in the Wesley Chapel, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224.
Visitation will be held at Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home Monday, May 12, 2014 from 6-8 p.m.
Ray was very proud to be an American and of his service to his country. He appreciated the great opportunities that our nation provides and took advantage of them. His life was the epitome of the American dream. Ray was the eternal optimist and his glass was always half full. His leadership and motivational skills were instrumental in developing and leading many businesses. He shared his optimism and wisdom with those he mentored and helped throughout his career.
Ray was born in Webb City, MO. to Raymond O. and Mary Helen Pitman, on February 1, 1925, but spent most of his childhood living in St. Joseph, MO. The family moved to Kansas City, MO where Ray graduated from Southwest High School in 1943. Ray had a life changing experience during the summer when he was seventeen. His parents bought him a one-way ticket to central Kansas to work in the fields during harvest time. There he learned how to scoop wheat and most importantly, he developed a self-sufficiency which served him all the rest of his life. He was drafted into WWII shortly after graduation and served in the South Pacific Theater with the 873rd Engineer Aviation Battalion. In the Army he learned about hydraulics, which led to his life-long passion for designing and manufacturing construction and utility equipment. He started Pitman Construction Company, which specialized in underground utility work. This was Ray's fancy way of saying he was a ditch digger. As the company grew, he designed and built equipment to make his work more efficient. He next founded Pitman Manufacturing, which designed, built and sold this equipment. It was here that a new industry was spawned. He designed the "cherry picker", boom trucks, and utility trucks. The Snorkel fire truck and aircraft deicers were also conceived by the group at Pitman Manufacturing. Ray had numerous patents. Ray also started RO Corporation and Pioneer Engineering, both built equipment that Ray designed.
In 1993 on the occasion of its 100 year anniversary, the Equipment Manufacturers Institute honored him as one of the 100 most significant contributors to the mechanization of the construction and agriculture industries.
He married the love of his life, Betty Jean Bodwell, shortly after his return from WWII; they were married for over 60 years. They adopted six children and were instrumental in taking the stigma out of adoption by helping numerous families in the KC area find children of their own.
Ray and Betty loved to travel the world but he especially loved his family trips across country in his beloved RV's. He was a member of Rancheros Visitadores, which gave him the opportunity to be a cowboy for two weeks every spring.
Ray was a member of Church of the Resurrection and a past member of Young Presidents Organization, the Carriage Club, the Kansas City Club, Hallbrook Country Club and The Village Presbyterian Church.
Ray loved helping others and began to mentor people in the 1950's. Ray was blessed to be able to carry on this tradition with the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program, HEMP, which mentors business owners in the Kansas City area. Ray loved his involvement with all his mentees and all that are involved in the program.
Ray leaves behind his children, Raymond F. Pitman, Jr. and his wife Susannah, Mary R. Neddo, Betsy Curry, Kathy Walworth, Nancy Carter and David B. Pitman. Ray also leaves behind his grandchildren; Pate, Carry, Rob, Bryce, Jack, Alex, Nick, Josh, Ryan, Oliver, Stephanie, Chrissy, Mallory, and Trey. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Sam Stockdale, his sister-in-law and her husband, Nancy and Jim Carnes, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was blessed to have several great-grandchildren. Ray has many, many friends that will miss him as much as his family will.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to KVC Health Systems Attn: Michelle Lawrence, 2150 W. 153rd St., Olathe, KS 66051 or Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, 10100 W. 87th St., Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66212