Walter Daves Pittman, 92, was born Dec. 9, 1920 in Cartersville, Georgia to Judge and Mrs. Claude C. Pittman. He died on Aug. 19, 2013, in Austin.
He graduated from Cartersville High School and entered Emory University. At the outbreak of World War II he joined the Army Air Corps and rose to the level of 1st lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. During World War II, piloting reconnaissance missions over Europe and North Africa, he was highly decorated, most notably with the Distinguished Flying Cross.
He married Mary Clark Gaines on Nov. 11, 1942. They were married for 69 years and raised four children. After the war, he graduated from Georgia Tech University with a degree in aircraft engineering. He worked for McDonnell Aircraft and later for the Aerospace Corporation. In 1959, he served on the advance team for Project Mercury as one of five pioneering aerospace engineers who laid the groundwork for manned spaceflight. He later worked closely with NASA on Projects Gemini and Apollo, as well as on the early development of the space shuttle.
After retirement, he volunteered through AARP to assist older citizens with their income tax reports at the Buda Library and the Onion Creek Senior Center.
Walter was predeceased by his parents, his brother Claude, his sister Emily Ann Hatfield, his beloved wife Mary, and their son John. He is survived by sisters Mary Barker and Lelia Johnson, sons Robert (Marcie) and Tom, and daughter Rebecca Richards (Mike), as well as John’s wife Wendy. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services were officiated by Pastor Tom Gautier on Sunday, Aug. 25 at Harrell Funeral Home in Austin followed by interment at Onion Creek Memorial Park.
