Chris Bittick, 57, of Waco, won his short battle with lung cancer and went home in the arms of Jesus on Monday, June 30, 2014, at Providence Hospital in Waco.
VISITATION: 5-7pm, Monday, July 7th at Lake Shore Funeral Home, 5201 Steinbeck Bend Dr., Waco, 76708
FUNERAL SERVICE: 2pm, Tuesday, July 8th, at Lake Shore Funeral Home
Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online Guest Book at www.LakeShoreFuneralHome.com.
Christopher Bruce Bittick was born November 14, 1956 to Bruce and Charlene (McCarty) Bittick in Tempe, AZ, the second of four children. Chris grew up in several locations, including Irving, TX, Topeka, KS, Charlotte and Pineville, NC, and Montgomery, AL. He ventured out on his own at a very early age, residing many years in the Charlotte, NC area, where he was a ballroom dance instructor. He served in the Navy from 1979 to 1983, stationed at King’s Bay, GA, where he was a crane operator/rigger and QA/QC inspector on the USS Simon Lake.
Soon after his Navy years, Chris returned to Texas and met the love of his life, Brenda, in 1986. They married in 1988, and resided in Irving, where Chris worked in shipping at Mathews Corp. for several years, and later, GE Medical Systems, installing Xray and MRI equipment. Chris and Brenda moved to Pompano Beach, FL in 1991, where he continued working for GE Medical Systems, and later manufactured air conditioners for yachts. Chris and Brenda continued to live in South Florida for the next 14 years, where he became active in their church, playing the guitar and singing on the praise team.
In 2006, they returned to Brenda’s hometown of Waco, TX, to help care for her ailing parents. Chris quickly found their new church family in Alliance Bible Church, where he also played guitar and sang on the praise team. He worked at Versalift installing electrical systems on lift trucks for a few years, and most recently went back to school and earned his HVAC certification, and worked as an HVAC tech trainee at Jacobs Cathey for almost 1 year before he became ill and wasn’t able to work.
Chris never met a stranger, and was blessed with the wonderful gift of gab! He was very proud of his family heritage and Bittick genealogy, especially because some of his ancestors were Texas Rangers. He loved God and his Country. He was extremely patriotic, flying our flag proudly every day. Chris loved playing the guitar, gardening, watching his Dallas Cowboys, and cooking.
Chris was preceded in death by his grandparents, and mother and father-in-law.
He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 26 years, Brenda Bittick of Waco; parents, Bruce and Charlene Bittick of Ryan, OK; brother, Mel Bittick of Richardson; two sisters, Celeste Bittick of Ryan, OK, and Cynthia Bittick of Phoenix, AZ; niece, Cameron Bittick of Richardson; uncle, Johnny Bittick and wife, Janie of Gainesville; two aunts, Edna Lou Green, and Melva Cathriner of Baytown; brother-in-law, Billy Cox of Waco, and his daughter, Roxie Rodriguez and husband, Juan, of Waco; his fur-babies, Janet, Jack, and Crissy the cats; as well as many dear friends and other family members.
Thanks to everyone at Texas Oncology Horizon Circle, Providence Hospital, and Waco Lung, for their extraordinary care and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Lung Association and American Cancer Society.
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
Our deepest condolences for you loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in these difficult days. We will see you at the funeral.
Thank you. I’m so glad ya’ll will be here! Chris was so proud of and adored his Uncle Johnny and loved you both very much, as do I.
Johnny, I realize I made a boo boo when I said he was on the USS Simon Lake submarine…duh, I meant to say and worked on submarines. Oh well, guess it’s not that big of a deal.
so sorry for your loss . Chris was a good man and a good friend .he will be greatly missed .
Thanks Scott, he felt the same about you. Ya’ll were supposed to get together for a brewsky….guess you have to wait a little longer…
Brenda
Our prayers are with you during this time. We will see you soon.
Salado, TX
Brenda, the obituary is beautifully written and a lovely tribute to Chris. The last time I saw Chris, he looked so happy to be with you and at the reunion. I am so glad that you came. And I hope you will come next year as well.
May God’s blessings be with you.
Love,
Pam
Thank you, Pam. We were both very happy at the reunion, it’s always so amazing to me how the few short hours we would be there seemed like a much longer visit. Good, quality time together. I hope I will come down there next year, too.
Love,
Brenda
Hey Brenda! It’s Savannah (:
I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am and I wish I could’ve made it to his service.
Some of the best times I had when we would go to Oklahoma, were with the both of you.
I hope you’re doing okay, and hope to see you the next time we come to Waco. You’re in my prayers.
Miss and love you.
Hey Brenda,
I’m so sorry for your loss, I loved Chris and wish I could’ve seen him more. I can remember all of us always laughing! Lots of laughs, especially sitting around making s’mores. Every time we all tried telling scary stories, they’d always end up being funny. I have so many memories of the farm with yall! I miss and love you. I’m glad Chris won’t be in pain anymore, you’ll be in my prayers.
God Bless
xoxoShelby
Dear Brenda:
Today, I just found this web site. I’m very sad to read your husband Chris has passed away. When I married his sister Celeste, he was my best man. I was so proud to see him at this day in April in dress white uniform during the ceremony. Chris was not only a brother in law to me but he became I trusted friend.
I remember the summer days in North Carolina at the swimming pool parties with him. I remember how much he and Celeste praised my Hungarian Gulash. I had the privilege to meet his grandparents, parents and Mel and Cintia. I never get tired to tell my friends about the farm in Oklahoma, or the acceptance into the family by being seated next to grandpa at the dining room table. I fondly remember the adventure I had there mending fences and helping the bull being unloaded . Every time I’m telling about the farm of Christopher’s Grandpa, the number of cows at the farm is getting more, like an angler measuring a fish he has caught.
After Celeste and I went different ways, the contact to the Bittick Clan faded out slowly. But I always will proudly count myself to the Bitticks and now to you too. My thought will be you and your family this holidays and always.
Please accept my sincere condolences,
Attila von Gyongyossy
I just thought about an old vase I made in high school and gave it to Chris….. I got a whim to look him up and saw this post! My sincere condolences to his family …. I know this is a late message but he was such a nice guy and I am so sorry for your loss…sincerely
I know it’s a wild maiden name