Obituary of Karol Pitts

Karol “Crabby” Pitts, 80, of State College, died Thursday, January 7, 2016, at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College. Born August 7, 1935, in Denver, CO, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Arthur and Cleta Cora Miller Williams “Bootsie”. On November 24, 1956, she married Charles W. Pitts, her husband of 59 years, who survives. She was a 1953 graduate of South High in Denver, Co and attended Colorado College in Greeley, CO. In addition to her husband, she is survived by four children, Timothy William Pitts and his wife, Cindy, Kimberly Ann Pitts, all of State College, Kelley Joan Cushing and her husband, David, of Avon, NY, and Kerrie Jean Haines and her husband, Jeremy, of York; two brothers, Charles P. Reid and his wife, Joan, of Poland, OH, and Thomas Williams Jr. of Bethany, OK; eight grandchildren, Nikki Carson and her husband, Dustin, Brian Cox, Stephen Parks and his wife, Amy, Wesley Duckworth, Brittany Donohue and her husband, Erik, Colby Cushing, Jordan Haines, and Dakota Haines; six great grandchildren, Lily, Ruthie, Cara, Clark, Kylie, and Gavin. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Kobie D. Pitts. During the process of starting a family, Karol received her Ph. T. (Putting Hubby Through) degree. As her family began to grow, Karol spent most of her time raising their four children. As her three daughters began growing up, Karol become a Brownie Leader and moved up to become a Girl Scout Leader. During the summer, Karol was always busy hauling the kids to softball games. All of her children played softball so she was always moving from one field to the next to watch each of her children play. As her four kids grew older, the family always ended the season with a month long camping trip. With all of the kids, Karol and Charlie visited all the states west of the Mississippi River. All of this happened while they lived in Kansas. When Charlie and Karol moved to Pennsylvania to start anew, all of the kids were grown and started moving in their own direction. Karol became involved with volunteering and working at Center Community Hospital, which is now Mount Nittany Medical Center. It was here, where she thoroughly enjoyed her association with the hospital and put in over 10,000 volunteer hours and by doing so, was acknowledged with Volunteer of the Year Award in 2004. For three years, Karol and Charlie lived in Swaziland, where she was involved in teaching reading to children in elementary school. She became good friends with a lot of the native people and helped them in any way she could. Karol enjoyed singing, ice-skating, and skiing and was very proficient in all. She was an avid golfer and bowler; she also enjoyed all kinds of art media. She was a member of the Sweet Adeline’s, Beta Sigma Pi and a longtime member of Penn State Blue Course Ladies Golf League. Karol was a beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, colleague and friend, affectionately called “Crabby” and loved by all who knew her. Visitation will be at 2-4PM and 6-8PM, on Friday, January 15, 2016, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Memorial Service will be at 2 o’clock PM, Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, located in Penn State University, State College PA 16803 with Celebrant Jackie Hook officiating. Reception following the Memorial Service will be at 4 o’clock PM at Celebration Hall, 2280 Commercial Blvd, State College, PA 16803. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Foundation for Mount Nittany Medical Center, Reference for the Emergency Department in Karol’s name, 1800 E. Park Ave., State College, PA 16803. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.