Thelma D. Pittman

Thelma D. Pittman, age 96, of Avon Lake and formerly of Cleveland, Ohio passed away Sunday, October 12, 2025. She was born May 19, 1929 in Crum, West Virginia to parents Thomas and Isabell (nee Marcum) Spaulding.

Thelma Spaulding, the ninth of ten children, grew up in Crum, attending the local schools, as her nine siblings did. She moved to Huntington, West Virginia to work for the War Department making lights for aircraft at Sylvania Lighting during the Korean War to support the war effort at home. While living in Huntington, she met John Pittman. They were married on August 20, 1953, and soon after moved north to Ohio in search of work for John. Thelma and John settled into married life in Cleveland and Thelma went about the work of making a loving and inviting home, her little piece of West Virginia in the north. She raised her children, enjoyed sewing and quilting, and remained very close with her sisters, especially Dixie and Maggie who also moved to Cleveland. But Thelma was an avid gardener most of all, keeping fruits and vegetables growing behind their home, and harvesting the crops so she could enjoy canning and making jams. Beyond these moments of daily family life, Thelma, along with John, were devout people of faith and active in their church. And Thelma's love for her family was seen in everything she did and said, she loved her children, but her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy.

Thelma is survived by her loving children Peggy Sue Hicks (Timothy) and John E. Pittman (Mary); cherished grandchildren Percilla Forbes (Michael), Shad W. Parsons, Shana Parker (Ron Krause), Ryan Pittman, and Reily Chinen (Jonah); and dear great-grandchildren Cullan (Mikayla) Parker, and Koda Pittman. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 46 years William "John" Pittman; son-in-law Darrell Parsons; parents; and siblings Lexie Chafin, Edna Varney, Clista Farley, Dixie Marcum, Joan Hammond, Mary Spence, Lillmon Spaulding, and two infant sisters.

Memorial contributions in Thelma's memory are suggested to Crum Church of Christ, PO Box 312, Crum, WV, 25669.

Family will receive friends Tuesday, October 28, 2025 from 11:00am until the funeral service at 1:00pm at Busch Funeral Home, 163 Avon Belden Rd, Avon Lake, OH 44012. Burial will be Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 11:00am at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens, 11521 Chillicothe Rd, Chesterland, OH 44026. www.buschcares.com 440-933-3202