By MARK MCGEE
mmcgee@bedfordcountypost.com
Mike Pitner, son of Mary and Allen Pitner, is holding his daughter, Nolen. Their daughter-in-law, Aleck Pitner, is drawing with their son, Truett Allen Pitner, Allen’s namesake.
The question many people ask themselves is what kind of legacy they will leave behind.
The late Allen Pitner’s legacy is a multifaceted one ranging from his children and grandchildren to his love of music and his joy in helping others.
Last week his family and friends gathered at 403 Greenwood Avenue to help with work on the next Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity house. The house is being built for Rubye Cole.
After Allen’s death August 1 of this year, numerous donations were made on his behalf to the local Habitat group. Bedford Builds executive director Pam Birtcil combined the contributions into the Allen Pitner Memorial Fund.
“Allen was on our board,” Birtcil said. “We got such a response that we decided to make it a sponsorship and we are building this house in memory of Allen.”
Birtcil invited Allen’s family members and friends to participate in a workday at the house on Oct. 28. Sixteen people accepted the invitation.
“They completed the floor,” Birtcil said. “The back filled three sides of the house.”
Allen held positions on numerous boards both municipal and charitable.
On the municipal level, he held memberships on the Shelbyville Municipal Planning Commission, the Shelbyville Municipal Airport Authority, the Bedford County Railroad Authority and the Bedford County Election Commission.
His charitable leadership in addition to Habitat included Workforce Solutions. He had started work with CASA, which provides court-appointed advocates for children. He was also a member of the Shelbyville Arts Council board.
“Allen and I made the decision to raise our family in Shelbyville and give back to the community that did so much for us when we were growing up,” Allen’s widow Mary Shapard Pitner said. “Allen believed that meant helping in any way he could. The mission of Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity lines up with Allen’s wish for everyone to have affordable housing and a safe place to live, especially here in Shelbyville.”
Mary Shapard Pitner works on the Habitat home located on Greenwood Avenue
Joining Mary during the workday were the Pitner’s children Martha Pitner Schettler and her husband Jake Schettler, son Mike Pitner and his wife Aleck, Allen’s brother David and his wife Kendra and nephew Joe Weston Pitner.
Friends helping were Betty Ann and Wayne Osborn, Brent Pewitt and Kim and Randy Vernon.
“To have our family and friends join in and work on this house in memory of Allen makes my heart swell with gratitude and pride for their love of him and our community,” Mary said. “Allen would have been honored to have Bedford Builds do this in his memory. “
