Glyndolen Pitts

Glyndolen "Gwen" Fernice (Smith) Pitts, 88, passed peacefully in her home in Uvalde, TX on December 16, 2016. She was born on October 24, 1928 in Goforth, TX, the fifth of eight children of Henry Claude and Fern (Foster) Smith.

She grew up in Chapman Ranch, TX where at 16 she quit school to work for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as an operator. In 1946, she moved to La Pryor, TX with her family where she soon met the love of her life, Paul Pratt Pitts. They were married in 1946 and spent the next 63 years fiercely devoted to one another until his passing in 2009. During their marriage, they resided in Uvalde, TX; Eagle Pass, TX; Pearsall, TX; La Pryor, TX; Rock Springs, TX; Zapata, TX; and Leakey, TX.

Gwen took great pride and pleasure in her role as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. She was not ashamed to admit that she never learned to swim and she never flew on an airplane. She was very content to be at home working in her yard, solving a crossword or jigsaw puzzle, cooking or baking, or coming up with projects to keep Papa busy. She also loved fishing at Falcon Lake and visiting with neighbors or friends. Family legacy and genealogy were very important to her and she remembered dates of births, deaths, and anniversaries better than most. The stories she passed down will be cherished by her family forever. She also helped to organize the Smith Family Reunion at Breckenridge Park in San Antonio every year for more than 30 years, a favorite annual event for all who attended.

Outside of her successful family life, her greatest accomplishment was her ownership and running of the La Pryor Drug Store from 1968 to 1975 where she was a pillar of the community and a favorite hangout for her sons and their friends.

Gwen, also known as "Sis", "Sissy", "Mom" and "Memaw" is survived by three sons, Paul Pitts and wife Merry Dee of Uvalde, TX; Neal Pitts and wife, Lynda of Hamilton, TX; and Paul W. McCallum of Grapevine, TX; ten grandchildren, Ryan Pitts and Erik Pitts of Uvalde; Nicole Gueck, Renee Williams and Toby Pitts of Bryan/College Station; Dionicia McCallum, Rheonna Croy, Caleb McCallum, Lanham McCallum, and Micaley McCallum of the greater DFW area; and eleven great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by two sisters, Waneva "Nina Jo" Chapman of Corpus Christi and Frances "Huchie" Reynolds of Carrolton and by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents H.C. and Fern Smith; five siblings, Sarahbell Hartense "Hortie" Robbins, Omalene Cox, Claude "Sonny" Smith, Baby Darling Dean Smith, Vallejo Dillard; and her faithful husband, Paul Pitts.
Graveside services only will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at the La Pryor Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary in Uvalde, TX. Pallbearers are Paul Pitts, Neal Pitts, PW McCallum, Ryan Pitts, Erik Pitts and Toby Pitts.



In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Uvalde County 4-H Program, PO Box 1708 Uvalde, TX 78802 with the subject line "Gwen Pitts, Heifer International Ark Project", an effort she was very interested in supporting led by her great-granddaughter Mackenzie Pitts. Online condolences, tributes, and favorite memories may be left for her by visiting her obituary at www.rekfunerals.com

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