Earl Richard Bittle

Early Monday morning, May 21st, 2018, the Reverend Earl Richard Bittle drew his final breaths and made the journey he’d been shouting about for decades. He passed peacefully while his wife gave him a backrub and he simply fell to sleep. He was born on June 7th, 1937 in Chesterfield, South Carolina. One of eight children, Reverend Bittle is preceded in death by his parents, Pearl Bittle and Fannie Jordan, two sisters Louise Killian and Margie Hodge, and brothers Grover Bittle and Rev. Charles Burris Bittle. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Dixie Lee Ervin Bittle, three brothers; Lloyd Bittle and wife Sheila of Landis, Ray Bittle and wife Maxine of Kannapolis, and Junior Bittle and wife Linda of Kannapolis, four children; Crystal Kelly and husband Wesley of Denver, North Carolina, Sharon Potter and husband Tom of Lowell, Bobby Ray Bittle and wife Megan of Lowell, and Fred R. Bittle of Stanley, seven grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 1pm to 2:45pm this Saturday, May 26th, at Lady’s Funeral Home in Kannapolis, North Carolina. A funeral service to honor the life of Rev. Bittle will begin shortly after at 3pm and is to be led by Pastor Shannon Williams who will be assisted by Mr. Bruce Cantley. Reverend Bittle began his work as a Freewill Baptist preacher after first holding a job as a humble millworker, and spending time with the United States Army National Guard. Upon becoming a Veteran, he began studying at Western Piedmont Bible College in Cramerton, North Carolina, from where he graduated June 29th, 1963. Through the course of his 50 plus years in the ministry, he pastored many churches throughout the Carolinas including Homer’s Chapel, Boger City Freewill Baptist Church, and Happy Home Freewill Baptist Church. Often working odd jobs while pastoring to support his family and his churches, he still found time to make everyone he met feel welcome and like an old friend. A stranger was never met by Rev. Bittle and anyone who spent time with him would leave a richer person than before. Whether he’d shared a good word or gifted them vegetables grown from one of his several gardens, no one left his presence emptyhanded. He took as much pride in tinkering and fixing things as he did in his greatest accomplishments, which most would say was his ability to touch lives and bring people to a life with the Lord. He worked with passion in all that he did, whether it be delivering a Sunday morning sermon or selling a Rainbow vacuum cleaner to a stranger and gave the glory to God all along the way. Throughout his nearly 81 years, Rev. Bittle found joy in everything, but mostly in auto mechanics, gardening, cheering on the Atlanta Braves, never passed up a fishing trip, and spending time with his family, especially over a good card game of Rook. His later years were spent still preaching to any and everyone who’d listen, growing lots of tomatoes and cucumbers and squash and corn and green beans for his family and many friends, and watching Hallmark Christmas movies with his wife. Rev. Bittle is leaving a great and lasting legacy in the hearts that he’s brought to the Lord and the bellies he’s fed from his gardens, sustaining so many physically and spiritually, and he will be greatly missed.