James Leonard Pittman

Dr. James Lenard Pittman, 86, of St. Joseph, Michigan, passed away on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. A visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 11:00 AM until Noon at Starks and Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., Saint Joseph. Immediately following will be a luncheon and time of sharing. Memorial donations may be made to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 200, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481. Those wishing to share a memory or sign Jim’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Jim was born on December 2, 1931, in Princeton, Indiana to Lenard and Audrey (Dorset) Pittman. Jim was a 1950 graduate of Princeton High School and subsequently attended Indiana State for pre-dental training. He graduated in 1956 from Indiana University School of Dentistry. He subsequently served in the U.S. Army Dental Corp at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri until 1958. After the army service, he attended the University of Michigan for his graduate training to specialize in pediatric dentistry on a C.S. Mott fellowship. In 1960 he married his wife, Shirley Jean Barber, from Pana, Illinois, whom he met in Ann Arbor. Then in 1961, he located his private practice of pediatric dentistry in the twin cities. Jim was an active member of the Lakeland Valley Dental Society and the Michigan Dental Association. He served 11 years on the Delta Dental Plan of Michigan Board of Directors, with two of the years as chairman of the board. After 25 years of private practice, in 1986, Jim took a position as a director of professional review at Delta Dental Plan of Michigan with his offices in Lansing and Farmington Hills, Michigan. However, they maintained their home in St. Joseph, returning on weekends. He retired from Delta Dental at the end of 1996. Jim was a life member of the Twin Cities Camera Club and pursued the hobby of photography for many years. He was also a life member of Berrien Hills Country Club and flew as a private pilot for 15 years. Jim us survived by his wife Shirley, of 58 years; two daughters, Cheryl (Bryan) Longtine of Northville, Michigan and Brenda (Donald) Nicholson of Knoxville, Tennessee; three grandchildren, Kevin and Sean Nicholson and Joanna Longtine; and numerous nephews and nieces. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Audrey and Lenard Pittman; infant daughter, Teresa Lynn Pittman; and a brother, Dr. John Pittman of Indianapolis, IN