Ruby Lee Pittman, age 86, passed away peacefully on the morning of August 24, 2024 surrounded by family. Born on December 30, 1937, in Wilson, NC, she was the daughter of Emma and James Archie Owens. Mrs. Ruby grew up in the North Carolina and Virginia area. She met William “Bill” Pittman at the United States Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia. The two were married on April 19, 1959, and the rest is history.
Ruby and Bill welcomed two boys, Doug and Mike, into the world in 1962 and 1968. While Bill was away serving in the U.S. Navy, Ruby was a Navy wife, serving as a home maker and lovingly raising and caring for her two sons whom she loved very much. Upon her husband’s retirement, Mrs. Ruby enjoyed spending time with her family who could finally all be together. Ruby also enjoyed spending time with her closest girlfriends shopping and getting her hair done at the local salon. When grandkids came along, Mrs. Ruby cherished time with them. She and Bill loved to keep them at their home. Mrs. Ruby loved to draw and was a talented artist, so naturally she loved to create artwork with her grandchildren. Ruby also loved to cook and host holiday dinners at her home. Since family meant so much to her, this of course gave Ruby more occasions to enjoy everyone being together. If you knew Mrs. Ruby, you know she would speak her mind and let you know exactly how she felt, but she was also quick to express how much she loved you. Her love truly shined through in her conversation, her heartfelt birthday and Christmas cards in the mail, her artwork she would draw, and especially in her tight hugs and kisses on the cheek. Mrs. Ruby was easy to love and a joy to be around, as she loved to share entertaining stories from her younger years as she reminisced on days gone by. Most recently, Mrs. Ruby expressed how excited she was to have new great grandchildren and to see how much her family continued to grow.
Ruby’s life was one of sacrificial love – to her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and to all those she knew. She made it a point to find thoughtful ways to show her family how much she loved them, and she created so much laughter with her strong spirit and her genuine style of storytelling. Ruby faithfully cared for her husband Bill until he passed after an extended illness in 2012. She faithfully lived out her wedding vows, “in sickness and in health” and “’til death do us part,” lovingly remaining by her beloved husband’s side. In her later years, Mrs. Ruby lived for the moments she could spend with family members. She loved shopping, watching game shows, and sharing meals with children and grandchildren as often as she could. Ruby Lee Pittman will be remembered as a devoted wife as well as a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her selflessness, kind and giving nature, and love for God and others will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to know her.
A service celebrating Ruby’s life will be held at 1 PM on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Pentecostal Lighthouse Church in Elm City, NC. Visitation will be from 12 PM until service time at the Church on Thursday with burial to follow in the Stantonsburg Cemetery in Stantonsburg, NC. Sondolence to the family may be left on Ruby’s tribute page at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com
Ruby is survived by: one son: Doug (Deborah) of Wilson; three grandchildren: Kimberly Pittman Grant (Lonnie) of Apex, Dillon Pittman (Katie) of Tupelo, MS, and Camey Pittman Ratliff (John) of Plantersville, MS; and three great-grandchildren: Livianna (3 years), Ozzy (21 months), and Julian (10 months). She is preceded in death by her parents: Emma Owens and James Archie Owens; her brothers: Buddy Owens and Raymond Mercer; her son: Michael Keith Pittman; and her grandson: Patrick Pittman.
Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their friends.
