1934
John
2015
John David Bitting
March 17, 1934 — June 21, 2015
John David Bitting went to be with the Lord on June 21, 2015 in Amarillo, TX. He will be sorely missed, but his family knows he is in a much better place, for “ To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 24 at Washington Avenue Christian Church located at 3800 S. Washington in Amarillo with Reverend Jim Shelburne
officiating. Private interment will be at Llano Cemetery.
John was born on March 17, 1934 in Amarillo, TX, to Mae Holt Bitting and William Leppaux Bitting. He grew up in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School on May 28, 1952. The next day he went to work with the Amarillo Fire Department. He began as a hose man (or a “plug catcher, as he called it) and worked his way up the ranks to driver, lieutenant and captain. He retired as a captain in May, 1989 after 37 years of service. He loved his years serving the community as a firefighter and remained close with the many friends he made, often meeting them for coffee and doughnuts after he retired. Current and former members of the Amarillo Fire Department will serve as honorary pall bearers at his memorial service.
John was one of the charter members of Washington Avenue Christian Church, joining as a teenager in 1949. He joyfully served his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a committee member, deacon and elder for many years. He married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Etheridge, in the church parsonage on July 12, 1952. They were happily married for 63 years.
John was predeceased by his parents and a brother, William L. Bitting, Jr. He is survived
by his wife Jeanne, sister Betty Duniven, his three sons and their wives: David and Janetta Bitting of Amarillo, Dale and Sarah Bitting of Allen and Dan Bitting and Becky Buckley of Austin; grandchildren Marcus, Jonathan, Jake, Maddie and Ian and a great granddaughter Hazel Mae.
The family wants to express sincere appreciation for the loving, gentle and professional care
given to John by the Village nursing staff and for the kindness and helpfulness given to John and his family by all the Ware Living Center staff.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Washington Avenue Christian
Church 3800 South Washington Street, Amarillo, Texas 79110 in c/o the building fund or
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 24 at Washington Avenue Christian Church located at 3800 S. Washington in Amarillo with Reverend Jim Shelburne
officiating. Private interment will be at Llano Cemetery.
John was born on March 17, 1934 in Amarillo, TX, to Mae Holt Bitting and William Leppaux Bitting. He grew up in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School on May 28, 1952. The next day he went to work with the Amarillo Fire Department. He began as a hose man (or a “plug catcher, as he called it) and worked his way up the ranks to driver, lieutenant and captain. He retired as a captain in May, 1989 after 37 years of service. He loved his years serving the community as a firefighter and remained close with the many friends he made, often meeting them for coffee and doughnuts after he retired. Current and former members of the Amarillo Fire Department will serve as honorary pall bearers at his memorial service.
John was one of the charter members of Washington Avenue Christian Church, joining as a teenager in 1949. He joyfully served his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a committee member, deacon and elder for many years. He married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Etheridge, in the church parsonage on July 12, 1952. They were happily married for 63 years.
John was predeceased by his parents and a brother, William L. Bitting, Jr. He is survived
by his wife Jeanne, sister Betty Duniven, his three sons and their wives: David and Janetta Bitting of Amarillo, Dale and Sarah Bitting of Allen and Dan Bitting and Becky Buckley of Austin; grandchildren Marcus, Jonathan, Jake, Maddie and Ian and a great granddaughter Hazel Mae.
The family wants to express sincere appreciation for the loving, gentle and professional care
given to John by the Village nursing staff and for the kindness and helpfulness given to John and his family by all the Ware Living Center staff.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Washington Avenue Christian
Church 3800 South Washington Street, Amarillo, Texas 79110 in c/o the building fund or
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John David Bitting, please visit our flower store.