Tina Witte

Tina Witte, 53, of Los Osos, was carried by angels into the arms of Jesus after a tragic fall on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010. "Teacher Tina," as she was known to many children and parents, was a preschool director/teacher at Sonshine Christian School of Los Osos for over 18 years. Born in Inglewood, Calif., in May 1957, Tina''s family later moved to Anaheim, Calif., where she volunteered as a kindergarten teacher''s aide while in high school. Here she discovered her special gift of working with young children that became her vocation for over 35 years. She eventually worked at preschools in Santa Ana, Tustin, Los Osos, and Morro Bay before finding her ministry home at Sonshine. In November 1975, while working as a receptionist for a small electronics equipment manufacturer in Santa Ana, she met and began dating her future husband, Michael. They married three years later and moved to Los Osos in December 1978. Tina touched the lives of hundreds of children and parents with her loving, kind, gentle and compassionate soul. She worked tirelessly every day (and long after closing) to make sure the many needs of the school program were always met. She loved watching her own children perform, singing in her church''s choir, gardening, shopping, wiener dogs, her iPhone, "chick flicks," music, some TV and home decorating. Above all else, she was a loving and devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend to many. Tina is survived by her husband, Michael; sons Patrick (Vanya) and Brian; daughter, Shannon; mother, Hazel; brother, Steve (Lyndsey); sister in-law, Marcie; adopted aunt, Judy; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, James; father in-law, Frank; mother in-law, Carol; uncle, Pete; and aunt, Shirley. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sat. Oct. 30, 2010, at the Church Of The Nazarene, 1480 Santa Ysabel Ave. in Los Osos. In lieu of flowers, donations, designated "Sonshine Scholarships," can be made to FBC of Los Osos, P.O. Box 6182, Los Osos, CA 93412-6182.