Kennedy Lane Bittle, 81, passed peacefully on Dec 15th at his home on the Little Red River in Heber Springs.  He was born July 29, 1941, to Joseph and Edith Bittle, and the youngest of 7 children (Josephine, Susan, Mary, Clyde, Ada, Tatum). He graduated from Heber Springs High School in 1959 and remembered hitchhiking at times to Arkansas State Teachers College at Conway.  He enjoyed raising his 5 children in the Vimy Ridge Community outside Little Rock where he worked for over 30 years with the U.S. Postal Service. 

As the son of a carpenter, he appreciated aspects common to the life of his Savior Jesus Christ, like working with wood and loving people.  Along with his wife Glenda, they would open their home to over 100 foster children through various agencies like Paragould Children's Homes, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Treatment Homes, Inc.  Nearly 40 years ago they would use their own property as collateral to finance the beginning of Arkansas’ first Therapeutic Foster Agency (Treatment Homes) where they collaborated with dear friends and professionals to transition toward fostering children with advanced needs.

Ken cared for the health of his wife of 42 years until her death in 2014.  He enjoyed great Christian fellowship at Mabelvale and Heber Springs Churches of Christ and often encouraged his children and grandchildren to attend Harding University. His love of family and the outdoors found him camping and hunting every Fall, or watching the sun break through the fog with his trout tackle during an early morning on the Little Red.  His recent years found him each week supporting a devotional at the local nursing home, hosting men’s coffee group, and delivering Meals on Wheels.

Ken is survived by siblings Ada Raney and Tatum Bittle, children: Monica Griffith (Roy), Todd Bittle (Andria), Shannon Reid (Jason), Karen Stephens (James), and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his wife Glenda Bittle, parents Joseph and Edith Bittle; siblings: Josephine Hipp, Susan Dreher, Mary Stark, Clyde Bittle; child: Tamara Bittle, grandchildren: Evan Alford, Emma Grace Bittle, and Dallas Carson.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Paragould Children’s Home or Treatment Homes Inc.

Visitation is 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at Heber Springs Funeral Home followed by the Funeral Service at 2:00 PM. The Interment is at Shiloh Crossroads Cemetery in Greers Ferry.