David Edward Pittman was born on September 21, 1888, in Frank, North Carolina. Pittman was a merchant in the Frank community of Avery County when he registered for the draft (World War I) in May 1917. He was subsequently inducted into the service in May 1918 and served with the 316th Field Artillery and the 156th Depot Brigade until honorably discharged in July 1919. Pittman died in Avery County on January 15, 1978.