FORREST DALE PITSENBERGER

July 17, 1920- Dec. 8, 2014

 

Forrest Dale Pitsenberger was born to Charles McKinley Pitsenberger and Zada Belle Ostrander near the Iowa town of Marne.  He grew up on a small farm and went to Iowa State University on a scholarship, where he met his wife-to-be of 73 years, Beverly Joyce Chandler. He was drafted into the Second World War, and served for three years as a combat engineer in Burma constructing the Lido Road.  After the war he finished his engineering degree and went to work in Quincy, Illinois, the birthplace of his son and daughter. Subsequently he worked in the oilfield industry in Kansas and Texas, where he became proficient with the design of high-pressure pumps.  He was able to use these skills when he went to work for NASA in Huntsville Alabama, with responsibilities for the liquid oxygen pumps on the engines of the Saturn V booster rocket and the Space Shuttle.

After his retirement he learned to fly and bought a small plane, which he and Beverly flew as far as Fairbanks, Alaska.  When he felt he had become too old to fly he began restoring Porsches. In 2006 he and Beverly moved to Washington, North Carolina to be near their son and daughter-in-law.

He loved animals, especially horses and dogs, automobiles, building things, fishing and boating. He always possessed a positive outlook and a wonderful sense of humor, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly, his daughter, Jan, his son, Gary and daughter-in-law, Barbara, his granddaughters, Launawe, Jennifer, Jami, and Mandy, four great grandsons and numerous nieces and nephews. He lived a full life and passed away peacefully at the age of 94.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00p.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church of Washington officiated by Rev. Lee Kinney.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Pitsenberger family.