Clifford Bitting Obituary (1940 - 2022)

Clifford J. Bitting, 81, of Albion, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 29, 2022, at his Albion residence. He was born on September 29, 1940, in Whitley County. He was the son of the late Ford and Emeline (Beezley-Thorn) Bitting. Cliff grew up in Merriam and attended Wolf Lake High School, graduating in 1958. He married Charla Sherman on October 27, 2006, in Albion. Cliff enlisted in the U.S. Navy on November 2, 1959. He served and was honorably discharged after seven years of service in 1966. He was a member of the Albion American Legion Post 246. As a veteran, Cliff participated in the Northeast Indiana Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in May of this year and attended the reunion for the U. S. S. Cogswell in Orlando, Florida, in June of this year. In 1977 Cliff moved from California with his family to the Bitting Family Farm, where he had enjoyed his childhood years and lived there until 2006. Cliff retired from Noble REMC in 2002. After retirement, Cliff refused to sit still. He stayed busy farming, raising beef cattle, and gardening on the Bitting Family Farm. Cliff loved hunting, fishing, working outside, and also enjoyed racing. He found value and pride in seeking out ways to help others. Being a grandpa and great-grandpa brought a lot of joy into Cliff's life. Surviving is his wife of 15 years, Charla; a daughter, Kelly (Matt) Elias of Albion; two sons, Brandon (Jane) Bitting of Albion and Michael (Angie) Geradot of Columbia City; two sisters, Mary Castle of Erie, Pennsylvania and Barbara Lockett of Wichita, Kansas; five grandsons, Tyler (Morgan) Siewek, Cameron and Ryker Elias, Weston Jackson and Colton Geradot; two granddaughters, Bayley Siewek (Dan Tieman) and Morgan Geradot; five great-grandchildren, Liliana and Colstyn Siewek, Hudson, Jonah, and Jade Tieman; and a nephew, Jeremy (Janet) Lockett. In addition to his parents, Cliff was preceded in death by his sister, Sally Bitting. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at Sheets and Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco Chapel. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at the funeral home, with calling one hour prior to service. Burial will take place at Merriam Christian Chapel Cemetery. Memorials to Shriner's Childrens Hospital. Sheets & Childs Funeral Home is entrusted with these arrangements.