Obituary of Arthur E. Bittel

Arthur E. Bittel May 20, 1919 - July 14, 2008 Art Bittel was born in Walters, OK to Albert and Georgia (Cook) Bittel. His mother died when he was three years old and he was raised by her parents, Sidney and Edith Cook. He graduated from Parma High School and enrolled in Michigan State College. After the start of WWII he enlisted in the United States Army. Following his time in Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he served in the South Pacific during the war. He met his bride-to-be, Loraine Lightsey, an Army nurse, while they were serving in the Army. They married upon his return to the states. Following their marriage in San Antonio, TX, they lived in Fort Bragg, NC then moved to Lansing, MI where he completed his college education, graduating with a BS in Civil and Mechanical Engineering. He took a job in Salem, Oregon, but soon moved to China Lake/Ridgecrest in the Mohave Desert of Southern California, where he worked for the U.S. Navy as a civilian engineer. They raised their four boys there and when he retired, he and Loraine moved to Florence, OR, helping to build up the First Baptist Church there. They moved to Tucson, AZ in 2000. Art's interests included woodworking, traveling, reading and golf. He and Loraine enjoyed their time traveling together in their fifth wheel trailer, usually helping small Baptist churches with building projects. He was a devoted Christian and served the Lord in various capacities in the church. Art is survived by his wife, Loraine, of 62 years; children, Alan (Sandi), David (Rose Ann), Sidney, and Jeffrey (Sheri); seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. There will be a private family viewing at Desert Sunset Funeral Home, 3081 Orange Grove Rd., at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, July 17, 2008, followed by a public visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Desert Sunset on the same evening. There will be a committal service at Phoenix National Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 18, 2008. A memorial service will be at Mountain View Baptist Church at a later date.