Raymond Lewis Bitler (1891 - 1977)

Born 28 Oct 1891 in Columbia, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 31 Oct 1977 at age 86 in Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States

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Biography

Raymond Bitler was born in October 1891. His parents were James Lewis Bitler (1842–1929) and Elma Josephine Smith (1854–1900). His mother died when he was only about 9 years old.

In 1910, he was a boarder in the home of James and Annie Bennage in Liberty Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania. James was managing a farm, and Ray was a laborer on the farm.^[1]

In about 1911, he married their daughter, Ida May Bennage (1895–1921).^[2] Their children included:

1. Ralph Raymond Bitler (1912–1984)
2. Martha E. Bitler (1913–2008)
3. Euretha F. Bitler (1914–1914)
4. Ethel Ida Bitler (1915–2006)

In June 1917 when he registered for the World War One military draft, they were living in Pottsgrove, Montour County, Pennsylvania. He was working as a self-employed painter.^[3]

In 1920 they were again living in Liberty Township, while he was a laborer on a farm.^[4]

After Ida's death in 1921, Ray moved to New Jersey. He remarried in about 1922 - to Elizabeth Ann Lunger (1900–1985). They had one son:

1. Carl Douglas Bitler Sr (1924–2011)

In 1930, the family was living in Camden, Camden County, New Jersey. Raymond was working as a paper-hanger for an interior decorator.^[5]

At some point between 1930 and 1940, they divorced, and Ray remarried a third time, to Frances S. Foster (1907–1958). In 1940, he and Frances were living in Collingswood Borough in Camden County. He was now a self-employed contractor specializing in papering and remodeling.^[6]

Interestingly, on his World War Two draft registration in 1942, when asked who would always know his address, he named his first son, Ralph, not his wife, Frances.^[7]

Ray passed away in Oaklyn, Camden County, New Jersey - three days after his 86th birthday in October 1977.^[8] He was buried in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge, Columbia County, Pennsylvania (Plot: Green Lawn).^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGZV-Z3J : Thu Mar 07 11:28:08 UTC 2024), Entry for James Bennage and Annie M Bennage, 1910.
2. ↑ Ida's Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132121633/ida_may-bitler: accessed April 23, 2024), memorial page for Ida May Bennage Bitler (24 May 1895–20 May 1921), Find a Grave Memorial ID 132121633, citing Grandview Cemetery, Milton, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Barry Keefer (contributor 47874656).
3. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6VR-JK5 : 25 December 2021), Raymond Lewis Bitler, 1917-1918.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M617-FSJ : Fri Mar 08 02:16:16 UTC 2024), Entry for Raymond R L Bitler and Ida May Bitler, 1920.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X48Y-D6C : Sat Mar 09 19:44:05 UTC 2024), Entry for Raymond L Bitler and Elizabeth Bitler, 1930.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K458-7MZ : Sun Mar 10 13:25:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Raymond R Bitler and Frances S Bitler, 1940.
7. ↑ "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X55Z-728 : Fri Feb 23 21:03:22 UTC 2024), Entry for Raymond Lewis Bitler, 1942.
8. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JYSH-HJC : 8 January 2021), Raymond Bitler, Oct 1977; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130784829/raymond_lewis-bitler: accessed April 20, 2024), memorial page for Raymond Lewis Bitler (28 Oct 1891–31 Oct 1977), Find a Grave Memorial ID 130784829, citing Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by John (contributor 48415393).