Ila M. Pitkin, 81

Richland – Ila Marie (Megaw) Pitkin, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and retired dietitian, passed away on June 19, 2026, at the age of 81. She was born on Sept. 1, 1944, in Minnesota where she grew up and spent many happy times with aunts, uncles, and cousins, she always had special memories of times spent with them. She graduated from Delavan High School and later graduated from the University of Minnesota. After completing a dietetic internship at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, MA, she worked as a dietitian at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. Then, she went on to receive a M.S. at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She stayed at the University of Missouri to work as an Instructor and helped develop the Coordinated Undergraduate Program in Medical Dietetics. She met Thomas Welles Pitkin while they were at the University of Missouri.

She married Thomas on May 27, 1973, in Delavan, MN and after a summer in Pennsylvania, they moved to Richland, Washington. There, she helped develop the Coordinated Undergraduate Program in Dietetics at Washington State University. Later she worked as a consulting Registered Dietitian: for Head Start, the Mental Health Center, and as a Nutrition Instructor at Columbia Basin College.

Together, Ila and Tom enjoyed life in Washington by exploring the beauty of the state. They explored the mountains, lakes, forests and the Pacific Ocean during hikes, backpacking trips, fishing, camping, and skiing. Later in their marriage, Tom and Ila went to social dancing classes where they met new friends with whom they enjoyed many good times together dancing, tasting wine, and seeing plays. In their retirement years, Tom and Ila traveled extensively to Europe: Germany, Salzburg, Croatia, Vienna, Budapest, France, Italy, Ireland, and Great Britain. They were enjoyable trips where they were able to meet many interesting people and saw some beautiful historic places.

Ila was preceded in death by her mother, Dagne Laila Solie Megaw; father, Raphual Megaw; sister, Sharon Rae Megaw Downard; husband of 53 years, Thomas Welles Pitkin.

She is survived by her children: Brad Thomas Pitkin and Carissa Marie Pitkin Cox (Kyle) and grandchildren: Madison Elise Pitkin, Mason Piers Pitkin, Mathias Welles Pitkin, Connor Cox, and Claire Cox; and her nephews: Todd Downard (Melissa and children), and Brad Downard. Ila was devoted to her family and was very proud of them.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Richland at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in honor of Ila to a cause of your choosing.