The Ocala evening star., 1911-06-02
LAST SAD SERVICES
TO CHsS. L.. BITFINGER

All day yesterday, . the remains Of /
Mr.. Bittinger lay in their casket in /
ths parlor Of his home on South /
Fourth street. Mr. Bittinger was very /!
fond of his home, in which ne had /
lived for a score Of years. Many i'm /
provements in il he had made with his |
own hands in that time, and every /
flower, plant, vine and tree had known /
his care. His greatest seasons of con |
tent were spent with his exchanges, /
either in the cozy sitting room on !
the vine shaded piazza TO both OF
which places he was always glad 10
welcome his friends Many came dur
ing the day TO look for the last time
upon his face, which showed little
trace Of his weeks Of suffering. but
bore the peaceful expression of quiet
sleep.
Scores Of floral offerings, some the
most elSborately beautiful the florist
could make, others put together at
home with loving care. were laid upon
the coffin and by its side until the
room was almost carpeted with the
flowers
Among the beautiful floral tributes
sent to the residence during the morn
ing were the follows: From Tulula
Lodge, /. o. O. F., from Miriam Re
bekah Lodge, from the Woman's Club
and the Junior Civic League, from the
employees Of the Star, from the Banner,
from the Loyal Temperance Legion and
from the w. c. T. L. One beautiful
tribute was sent by the colored citi-
zens of Marion county, and many rep
resentative men of that race came dur
ing the day to take last look at one
who was always ready and glad to
"a m
work.
At four o'clock the~pall bearers bore
the coffin to the hearse, which pre-
ceded by the members of Tulula and
Rebekah lodges, of which Mr.. Bit
finger was a member, and followed by
the family and friends, went to the
Episcopalan church, where Rector
Gray and his choristers and many more
friends were waiting. The coffin was
borne into the church and all listened
with the deepest reverence to the
beautiful service never more impress
sively led by Rector Gray. and then
the remains were taken to their last
resting place in Greenwood Cemtery
Annex.
The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs led
the procession, which was long one.
and there was another large assem-
blage at the cemetery. Mr.. Gray led
the services at the grave, and at his
conclusion, he led in the song sun of
My Soul" Some joined and all listen
ed with the deepest reverence to the
hymn that promises peace and glorious
immortality.
AS Rector Gray finished, the Odd
Fellows came forward and stood in a
ring with clasped hands, around the
grave, while their noble grand, w. F.
Marlowe, assisted by Past Grand w. H.
Coleman, paid the last simple but i'm
pressive tribute to their dead brother
and friend. Then all came away and
left the dead with his face to the sun
rise, awaiting the everlasting morn
ing.
The pail bearers all came from the
Star office They were z. Fl. Gillen
and J. n. Benjamin, the former of
whom had worked with Mr. Bittinger
for twenty years and the latter for
orator, who had set his copy for the
last five years; Lewis Yonce, L. D.
Geiger and Quincy Peacock. 1t was
peculiarly appropriate that they should
do him this last service, for Mr.. Bit
finger was never a "boss"-he was a
good-natured friend who gave his
work to his employees in the belief
that they would do it well.
The honorary pail bearers were Mes
srs. F. f. Harris and P V. Leavengood,
of the Banner, Mr. G. L. Taylor@of the
Taylor Printing Company, and Messrs.
II. c. Packham, Jake Brown and Geo.
w. Martin.