Jack Pitcher, Sr.

Jack “Papa” Pitcher, age 82, was born on March 1^st 1942 and headed out to find a comfortable place to rest in heaven on September 16^th, 2024. He left behind a comfortable chair from which he could watch a multitude of sports and game shows, a hot back porch where he could do the same, and a wife who was everything else in the world to him.

Jack is survived by his wife Kathy (who managed to hold this title for an impressive 64 years, with a 3-year kicker as his girlfriend), his brother Bill, sons Mickey and Jimbo, and daughters Terry and Rhonda. Also, his parade of grandchildren: Lannie and Zac, Tanner and Emily, Bryan and Becca, Mark and Nikki, Areyana, Hayven, Brooklyn, and soon to be Oakleigh. As well as an extended family that would take pages to list. Every one of which he loved dearly.

Jack graduated from University High School in Waco Texas, where he met the love of his life Kathy. He learned he liked his steaks medium on one of their first dates when he was given her steak by mistake. “That’s mine!” She told him. “Well, it’s mine now!” He told her. Kathy would forgive this transgression and continue to date him, which he was until the very end grateful for.

Jack Pitcher personally painted or oversaw the painting of likely over half of Waco. He did this for the most part as an employee of the Dyer Painting Co. The company treated him so well he figured he might as well stay with them for over thirty years. He retired from Dyer only a few months before his passing. The Dyer family were more than coworkers to Jack, they were family.

There were many things Jack enjoyed. As many men do, he enjoyed games (both of chance and board). When he would award his children or grandchildren with a dollar for helping him around the house he would often ask if they’d like to “parlay” it. A chance to double their money! When they would learn to tell him no, he would say “Now you’re learning.” Other things he enjoyed were: yelling answers out to Wheel of Fortune puzzles (often slower than Kathy), waking up unreasonably early, talking on the phone with the people he loved, and singing about how much he loved his wife (often to the tunes of popular songs, though he usually credited the original artist).

In gathering stories about Jack, the true constant among them all is that regardless of the situation or his mood, Jack loved making the best of the situation. With a smile and a laugh, he could turn dark times bright. He was a defender of his family. Making up games for his kids and grandchildren or helping his younger brother out from under a pile of football players, Jack was always there for those who needed him.

Jack spent his final days in the company of his family. He repeated how much he loved them over and over as much as they wanted to hear it. He said he was loved, lucky, and so blessed. He knew that he would soon visit those that preceded him, including his oldest son, Scooter.

Above all Jack loved his wife. In his final days she rarely left his side, and he would also tell anyone who would listen how much he loved her, not just then but throughout all their time together. Jack showed his children, grandchildren, and anyone watching how to treat the person you love most in the world, and how they should expect to be treated. Still, it was all and always was, for Kathy.

A service will be planned at a later date as the family takes time to mourn.