Esther Mae Landis Bittinger

Esther Mae Landis Bittinger, 99, passed away October 23, 2026 at Bridgewater Retirement Community. She was born March 19, 1927 near Tampa, FL to her parents, Harvey M. and Ethel Zimmerman Landis.

Esther shared 77 years of marriage with her husband, Emmert F. Bittinger, who preceded her in death in 2025.

Esther is survived by her three daughters, Lorraine Lineweaver (David), Mildred Arnett (Ronald), and Marion Bittinger (Antonio Martinez), 6 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Glen Landis and Dale Landis, and her sister Dorothy Landis Albert, and is survived by a brother, Kenneth Landis, and a sister, Bertha Drew.

Esther was a graduate of Bridgewater College and James Madison University, and was a classroom teacher and reading specialist for 22 years in Rockingham County Public Schools.

Esther participated in numerous professional organizations and volunteer activities. Some of her favorites were the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Historical Society, tutoring refugees, lay visitation, Koinonia Farms in Georgia, Camp Ithiel in Florida, Camp Brethren Woods, and the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. She trained as a Disaster Child Care worker, and traveled to Louisiana and Culebra, Puerto Rico three times.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm, November 28, 2026 at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. Interment of ashes will be at a later date at the Eglon Community Cemetery, Eglon, WV.

The family would especially like to thank the caregivers of Serenity House at Bridgewater Retirement Community for the attentive care they provided. Memorial contributions can be made to Heifer Project International or the Emmert F. Bittinger Endowed Fund at Bridgewater College.