Mark Cleveland Bitting

Mark Cleveland Bitting Jr., 87, of New Cumberland, died peacefully on Friday, August 23, 2013 in Holy Spirit Hospital, East Pennsboro Twp. surrounded by his loving family.
He was the retired owner/operator of Mark C. Bitting, Inc., two way radio communications sales and service in New Cumberland and co-founder and former owner of Summit Communications, Inc., Fairview Twp., the tower site on Reesers summit. He was valedictorian and class president of the former Millerstown High School Class of 1943.
Mark was a member of Fishing Creek Salem United Methodist Church, Etters where he served as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and treasurer of the church’s building fund for 41 years. He was also a member of Keystone Capital Chorus of SPEBSQSA for over 20 years; the Huguenot Society of Central PA, Jean Ribault Chapter; National Society of Palatines to America; and the Perry Historians. Mark enjoyed reading, traveling, singing, genealogy, crossword puzzles, and family gatherings. Mark earned his pilot’s license in 1946 and was an aviation enthusiast his whole life.
He was born on July 25, 1926 in Greenwood Twp., Perry County, Pennsylvania to the late Mark C. Bitting Sr. and Esther Clara (Hulick) Bitting. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son Mark C. Bitting, III (2005) and a brother Lotus F. Bitting.
Mark is survived by his wife, R. Patricia (Stroup) Bitting, with whom he would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on October 1, a son John S. Bitting and wife Beth (Barlow) of Cabot, PA; daughter in law Pamela E. (Reisser) Bitting of Etters; a sister Florence E. Daniels of Milpitas, CA; four granddaughters, Amy (Bitting) Kelly and husband Matt, Kristy Bitting, Anna Bitting and Emily Bitting; and two great grandsons, David and Michael Kelly.
Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 in his church with the Rev. Dr. Debbie Heisley-Cato officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Tuesday in the church. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, Millerstown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are respectfully requested to either the building fund of Fishing Creek Salem United Methodist Church, 402 Valley Rd. Etters, PA 17319 or to the American Heart Association, 1019 Mumma Road, Wormleysburg, PA 17043.
To send messages of condolence to Mark’s family or for driving directions, please visit www.Parthemore.com.