Bill Pitts Sr.

DEXTER -- The Rev. William "Bill" Pitts Sr., 71, died Sept. 3, 2012, at the Golden Living Center in Dexter.

Born Aug. 16, 1941, at Oklahoma City, Okla., son of Ruby Tunnell Pitts of El Reno, Okla., and the late James Robert Pitts Sr., he was a minister in the Assembly Of God Church for 41 years pastoring churches in Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a Eagle Scout and recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award.

On Jan. 5, 1961, at Worthington, he married Lenora Ann Long, who preceded him in death on Jan. 26, 2007.

He was also preceded in death by one brother, James Robert Pitts Jr.

In addition to his mother, survivors include: one son, William E. Pitts Jr. of El Reno; three daughters, Ruby Lenora Pitts of Kansas City, Billie Shelton of Dexter and Lisa Renee Marsh of Columbia; two brothers, Roy Allen Pitts of Edmond, Okla., and Thomas Edward Pitts of El Reno; one sister, Sally Sue Sims of Lawton, Okla.; and 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Glad Tidings Assembly Of God Church in Moberly where services will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. Manuel Shultz will officiate.

Burial with full military honors will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Jacksonville.

The Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Dexter is in charge of arrangements.