Wayne Franklin Pitkin, 65, passed away Thursday, January 14th at his home of in Moscow of congestive heart failure. Pitkin was born in Moscow on October 29, 1944 and graduated from Moscow High School in 1963. He attended the University of Idaho for a short time before working for McGregor Co. and Puregro in Moscow. In 1972, he began a 36 year love affair with flying for Fountains Flying Service – crop dusting on the Palouse and Camas Prairie in Idaho. His relationship with his farmers and associates was very personal to Wayne and he was highly respected, and will be deeply missed because of this close relationship.
He was married to Janice Allen in Coeur d’Alene on December 13, 1969. They were blessed with one daughter, Kaci Neely and two sons, Stacy Pitkin and Sean Pitkin. He is also survived by two brothers; Mark Pitkin of Moscow, and Gannett L. Pitkin of Pendleton - and a sister, Cheryl Hatch of Moscow. In addition he is also survived by four grandchildren and one great grandson, two step sisters, Cora Sue LeBret and Connie Cain, both of Spokane as well as a step granddaughter and 3 step grandsons. He was a long time member of the Pacific NW Aerial Applicators Assn.
He was preceded in death by his father, Franklin H. Pitkin, his mother Virginia D. Ott and his sister-in-law, Lynda D. Pitkin.
A memorial service will be held at Short’s Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, January 19th at 11:00 AM with Rev. Kathy Lee Kramer officiating. A private burial will follow at the Moscow Cemetery.
A reception will follow at 776 Indian Hills Drive. He will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him. Letters of remembrance would be appreciated by the family.
Memorials are suggested to the Forest Products Scholarship Fund or the Frank Pitkin Scholarship Fund, Natural Resourses Dept., both at the University Of Idaho.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Short’s Funeral Chapel, Moscow, and online condolences may be left at www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.
