George Bittle

1925 - 2018

Long-Time Alamogordo Resident and World War II Navy Veteran passed away on Friday, April 13th at the age of 92.
George was born in November 1925 and was raised on a farm in Fruita, CO until 1944. Around the end of his time in Fruita, George met his future wife Patrica Collyer.
Shortly thereafter, George was drafted & served in the US Navy on USS Facility in Pacific Ocean from 1944–1946 as a sonarman. He and his friend Marvin Bixler flipped a coin to choose Navy or Marines; George's coin flip chose the Navy. George's crew was tasked with clearing the aquatic mines after the bomb in Hiroshima so that the Red Cross could safely reach the shores to bring aide.
During his Navy service, he was granted leave to marry Patricia on April 22, 1946. 1947 their 1st daughter Paula was born, in Grand Jct., CO. George sold shoes for Brown-Schelesman shoe store in Grand Junction, CO then in Durango, where he met JC Penney assistant manager Rex Terrell. Rex encouraged George to apply with JC Penney. He did, and began a long career with them where he worked from the age of 23 to 60.
George had two other daughters: Janet in 1951 and Lori in 1956. In 1969 George moved his family to Alamogordo to manage the local JC Penney store until retirement in 1986. George remained in Alamogordo where he lived out the remainder of his life.
Before he lost his sight, he was an amateur artist (painting & sketching). He loved hiking, fishing and doing his own basic auto mechanics. He had no enemies and loved keeping in touch with his many cherished friends. He forgave anyone who treated him badly; saying, "they must be having a rough time".
George was preceded in death by his parents George & Opal Bittle, brothers Jim & Dan Bittle, and his wife Patricia. He is survived by 3 daughters, Paula Taylor, Janet Jordan, and Lori Martinez; 5 Grandchildren, 6 Great Grandchildren, his brother Jerry Bittle; 2 step-sisters, Shirley Bittle Armstrong & Charlotte Bittle Johnson.
Funeral services with military full honors will be held April 28, 2018 at 1pm, at St Jude's Parrish, in the chapel and at the columbarium: 1404 College Ave, Alamogordo, NM 88310. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in George's name to the NM commission for the blind or your favorite charity.