John Bitzer's Obituary
John Louis Bitzer, 04/14/1936 to 11/7/2005
Obituary
John Louis Bitzer, age 69, of Lewes, DE died suddenly as the result of injuries sustained in an accident in the home, Monday, November 7, 2005, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. He was born April 14, 1936 in Reading, PA, son of the late Gottlob and Lillian M. (Rettberg) Bitzer.
Mr. Bitzer was a graduate of Wilson High School, West Lawn, PA. He entered the U.S. Air Force directly after high school and served a four-year tour of duty as a Medic in both Korea and Japan. After an honorable discharge he became a student at Roanoke College in Salem, VA where he graduated in l962. After college he went to work for RCA in Lancaster, PA. He then accepted a purchasing assignment with Kerr Glass in Lancaster, PA then he transferred to Keyport, NJ and then transferred back to Lancaster where he lived and worked for l9 years. He accepted a position with Baker Refractory in York, PA where he worked for l5 years as a Capital Equipment Buyer before retiring.
John was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth Beach, DE. John was a wonderful asset to the church and used his talents on so many projects to enhance the life of the church. He was also a volunteer two mornings a week at the New Life Thrift Store and it was a job he loved and looked forward to with much enthusiasm. John was affectionately known as "The Mayor of Pilottown" as he loved visiting with his friends and neighbors and being of service to them. Any project that someone had John was right there to pitch in and help.
John was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose #646 Lewes/Rehoboth, American Legion Post #28 Oak Orchard and the Cape Henlopen Elks #2540. He was a faithful member of the Thursday Morning Pilottown Grumpy Old Men's Breakfast Club.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-daughter, Vicki (Weirich) Richardson. He is survived by his wife Susan (Sheaffer) Bitzer; his daughter, Vickie Lynn (Bitzer) Philpot of Red Bank, NJ; two brothers, Otto R. Bitzer and wife Charlotte of Limerick, PA and Fred P. Bitzer and wife Cara of Lewes; grandchildren, Kristen and Gary Philpot, both of Red Bank; step-son Richard Weirich & wife Patti of Neffsville, PA; and step-grandchildren Josh, Amanda and Paige Weirich of Neffsville, PA.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 12, 11 AM, at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Bay Vista Road and Route 1, Rehoboth Beach; Pastor Donald Schaefer will be officiating. Interment will be private. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes, DE.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 7 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Send online condolences to: [email protected]
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