Bittinger

Gale “Butch” Edward Bittinger, 80, of Garner, N.C., passed away peacefully at home on May 26, 2023.

A native of North Washington, Pa., Gale was born on Oct. 11, 1942, son of the late Robert “Big Bob” Ward and Helen Stewart Bittinger.

Butch was the proud patriarch of the Bittinger family. His life was dedicated to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his loving wife of 60 years, and his beloved children. He taught his family, through example, the importance of helping those in need, being involved in your community, and that the road is always the slickest right as the rain begins. Butch served in so many ways, starting with the U.S. Army. He was involved with the Children’s Home Society of Florida, where he was a board member from 1978-88, was a Freemason for more than 50 years, finishing his service with the Vandora Masonic Lodge 0745, a member of the Shriners, the Scottish Rite, and the York Rite of Raleigh, and past president of the Garner Shrine Club.

Gale is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruth Ann Bittinger, of Garner, N.C.; children, David Bittinger, of Smithfield, N.C., and wife, Christa, and Amy Kunkle and husband, Mark, of Garner, N.C.; grandsons, Jason and Cody, of Smithfield, N.C.; stepbrother, Richard Madison and wife, Dona, of Butler; nieces and nephews, Bill Bittinger and wife, Ruth, of Pittsburgh, Bert Alworth and husband, Butch, of Parker, Beth Gardner and husband, Mike, of Emlenton, Barb Ritts and husband, Ken, of Emlenton, and Bonnie Parenti of Parker, as well as several great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

In addition to his parents, Butch was preceded in death by his brothers, Donald and Robert Bittinger.

BITTINGER — Visitation for Gale “Butch” Edward Bittinger, who died Friday, May 26, 2023, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday with a funeral service following at 1:30 p.m. in BUZARD FUNERAL HOME, 201 S. Washington St., Eau Claire.

Interment will follow at the North Washington Union Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford: https://mhc-oxford.org, or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: https://www.stjude.org.

To view/send condolences, flowers and sympathy cards, visit www.buzardfuneralhomes.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.