April 25, 2003
Obituary: Gordon Cole Bitler

Gordon Cole Bitler, 79, of Kings Beach died Thursday, April 17 in Chile Gulch, Calif.

His many years of hard work as a gifted craftsman in brick and stone have left monuments to his efforts throughout Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas. Gordon was a member of the local and international bricklayers unions for more than 50 years.

He was born in Reno on Sept. 4, 1923, and was a long-time resident of Lake Tahoe's North Shore.

In 1941, at the age of 17, Gordon proudly joined the United States Navy. He served as a gunner's mate on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington, and survived the ship's sinking during the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942.

He enjoyed belonging to the USS Lexington CV2 and attending the group's annual reunions. Gordon had been looking forward to the year's final reunion in May, but he will be with his shipmates in spirit.

He will be greatly missed by his family, whom he loved with much dedication. His friends and family are left with many wonderful memories of a man who faced life uncomplaining, with determination and optimism. He was able to maintain a sense of humor throughout even the most difficult of times.

Gordon was a gentle and proud spirit. He had great integrity and an unbending will, which allowed him to meet life on his own terms. Generosity and graciousness guided his behavior toward his family and his community.

His family reports that his only known apparent lapse in judgment was rectified in the early 1970s when Gordon switched his allegiance from the Los Angeles Dodgers to become an avid Giants fan.

Gordon is survived by Darlene E. Bitler, his wife of 50 years, best friend and soul mate; his sister Wanda Brooks of Carson City; his children Sandra Bitler of Arlington, Va., Christine Bitler and Robert Garamendi of Chile Gulch; Forest Bitler of Parker, Colo., Gordon Bitler, Jr. of Incline Village; and Pat and Hope Bitler of Mountain View, Calif.

He also is survived by grandchildren Kainin and Cylie Bitler of Tucson, Ariz., Cheri Garamendi of San Francisco, Benjamin Bitler of Carson City, Celeste Bitler-Garamendi of Chile Gulch, Brad Bitler of Davis, Calif., Marisa and Christine Bitler of Mountain View and Matthew Bitler of Parker, Colo.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the capital fund of the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, P.O. Box 1617, Kings Beach, CA 96143 or to the Tahoe Forest Hospital Hospice, P.O. Box 759, Truckee, CA 96160.

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NOTE: I believe Gordon to be the son of Abner Bitler ( son of Charles H Bitler and Alice Fague) annd Augusta [Unknown]. If anyone can prove this or has information on the Bitlers from Nevada, I'd like to hear from you.