Lola Jean (Gibbs) Pitts, 89, of San Jose, California, left this life for her heavenly home on February 1, 2023. Born in Hodgeman CO, Kansas on June 11, 1933, Lola was the fifth child and second daughter of Harry Gibbs Sr. and Celia Borieson Gibbs. She was raised on the family farm in rural Hodgeman County, attended the one-room schoolhouse near their farm through 8th grade and graduated from Jetmore High School in 1951.
On August 11, 1951, Lola was wed to Vernon Pitts at a ceremony in the Methodist Church in Jetmore. They were blessed with four children. The family lived in several small SW Kansas communities, including Jetmore and Dighton and finally settled in Bucklin in 1958, where Vern worked at the local lumberyard. Vern and Lola purchased the Lindas Lumber Co. in 1961 and ran that enterprise until they sold it in 1981. Lola worked at the Bucklin Hospital and Hill Top House as a nurse’s aide during their years there and loved caring for the patients and working with the other staff members. These were among her dearest memories.
Lola was a devoted wife, mom, aunt and friend. She loved to host gatherings with her wonderful hospitality gift. She perfected the "Lola Pitts School of Entertaining", teaching her daughters to always make sure there was an abundance of food for everyone! She attended all of her children's school activities, even taking the night shift at the hospital so that she wouldn't miss any evening programs or sporting events.
Lola and Vern moved to San Jose, CA, in 1981 with their youngest child and soon two of their older children joined them there. Lola found employment with the church they attended, South Bay Covenant, as a secretary and filled that position for a number of years until they longed to return to the Midwest. They moved to Kansas City, MO in 1994 to be near their two daughters and families. Lola worked as a bookkeeper for Omega Bookstore and later found a position with the KCI Security Office as a secretary in 2001. Subsequently, Lola moved to the Operations Office at the airport from where she retired in September 2012 at the age of 79.
At the passing of her husband, Vernon, in 2020, Lola moved back to California to live with Vern and Karen Pitts in San Jose. She was lovingly cared for by her son and daughter-in-law until her death.
Lola was preceded in death by her parents, four siblings, James Gibbs, Joseph Gibbs, Erma Hubbell and Harry Gibbs Jr., one great granddaughter, and Vernon Pitts, her husband of 69 years. She is survived by her children: Gloria Scheib, Kansas City, MO; Vern Pitts Jr (Karen), San Jose, CA; Lorrie (Michael) Sandoval, Walnut Creek, CA; and Aaron Pitts (DeeDee Daily), Kansas City, MO; 13 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and a host of nephews, nieces and dear friends whom she loved from around the country.
Lola will be laid to rest in the Fairmount Cemetery in Jetmore, KS. There will be a private memorial at a later date.
Arrangements in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, PO Box 663, Jetmore, KS 67854. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithfuneralhome.com.06/11/19