SOMERSET, Ky. — David Pitman was 62-year-old and is the first person in Pulaski County to die from coronavirus. The husband and father of four had retired from the City of Somerset Water Treatment Plant. 

Pitman started feeling sick on March 20, a few days later he was hospitalized at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset. He became critically ill within days and on April 1, he lost his battle.

Pitman's son, Dustin, released a Facebook video urging people to take COVID-19 seriously when his father died. He asked that his message be shared so that his father could continue to help others even after his passing. Almost 50,000 people have watched the younger Pitman's video and it has been shared thousands of times. 

In addition to his four children, David Pitman is survived by his wife Star. The couple were married in December 1989 and would have celebrated their 31 anniversary this year. 

Spectrum News 1 learned of Pitman's passing on April 9 during Governor Andy Beshear's daily update.