Christine Pitkow

Christine Pitkow died Wednesday, December 8 at Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook, PA.  Born March 21, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Marguerite Erickson and George Timmons.  Christine graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1954.  She  married Jay B. Pitkow on November 13, 1960, who died March 31, 2001.  



Jay was an electronic engineer who was employed for his entire career by the Burroughs/Unisys Corporation.  He began his work in 1954.  After his marriage to Christine, his work responsibilities required four re-locations – two residencies in California, where both of their children, Steve and Susan, were born; and two residencies in Pennsylvania.  From 1965 – 1993, the Pitkows lived in the West Chester/Downingtown area.    Jay’s projects with Burroughs/Unisys included work on the Burroughs Adding Systems and punch cards, the Atlas-Centaur project, the Burroughs Optical Lens System for guiding planes into terminals, and the guidance system for the Space Shuttle Columbia.  



Christine was a homemaker and a crafter.  During her time of residency in Chester County, she worked at Frank’s Nursery in West Chester in crafts.  She began her own business, Kalico Krafts,  specializing in Christmas items including swags, wreaths, and ornaments.  In addition to craft work, Christine enjoyed music and had a love of horses.  



Upon Jay’s retirement in 1993, Jay and Christine moved to Pueblo, Colorado where they built a home that overlooked the San Juan Mountain range.   Jay enjoyed his retirement golfing and fly fishing.  He made his own rods, nets, and flies.   On weekends, Christine and he would travel a multistate area for her Kalico Krafts as vendors for craft shows.  

Christine remained in their Colorado home after Jay’s death.  She was active in her church, including singing in the choir.  Christine moved to Tel Hai in April 2006 where she was also a member of the Tel Hai Choir and a participant in the Tel Hai Chapel.    



She is survived by her son, Steve Pitkow, and his wife, Paula Pitkow; and her daughter, Susan Hash, wife of Rich (Frank) Hash and two grandsons – Reed and Ryan.  A memorial service for both Christine and Jay Pitkow will be held Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at the Chapel at Tel Hai Retirement Community, 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook, PA.