Ella Loraine Bitner, age 90, passed away in Commerce, OK on Saturday, December 6, 2014. Loraine was born in Bates County, Missouri, September 6, 1924 to Willie and Anna Ardena Leone (Hedger) Stark.
Funeral services for Loraine Bitner will be 2:00 pm, Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel with burial in the Benjamin Cemetery near Amoret, MO. Visitation will be dfrom 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Wednesday, December 10 immediately prior to funeral services at the chapel. Contributions in memory of Loraine may be given to the Butler Public Library.
Loraine was a graduate of Amoret High School. She had a bachelor’s degree in education and graduate hours from Central Missouri State College.
Loraine’s passion was helping young children learn. She began her teaching career in a one room school house. She taught the last 19 years of her 32-year teaching career at Adrian, Missouri.
Loraine is survived by her son Colonel Teddy Bitner and wife Nancy of Raymore, Missouri and daughter Dr. Bethene Fahnestock of Miami, Oklahoma; 5 grandchildren, Christopher Adams (who she raised) of Kansas City, Missouri, Rebekah Bitner, Hannah Bitner, Miriam Bitner all of Raymore, Missouri, and Terri Fahnestock of Springfield, Missouri; one great-grandson, James Wattenbach of Raymore, Missouri; and many cousins, nieces and nephews, who she enjoyed visiting.
Loraine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dwight Dixon Bitner, Jr; her daughter, Teresa DeAnn Bitner Adams; her sister, Wilma Faye Webber; her brother Wilbur “Bud” Stark; an infant brother; and a special cousin, Pauline Hedger Evans.
