Mary Elizabeth Bitzer

Mary Elizabeth Bitzer, 88, died peacefully Sunday, October 17, 2010. She lived in Bexley, OH. with her son and daughter-in-law before moving to Westminster Thurber Community (Columbus, OH) in 2007. Previously she lived in Chevy Chase, MD., New York City and Long Island, and Camp Hill, PA. Born July 26, 1922 in Harrisburg, PA to the late Charles and Ruth (Burke) Bitzer, she graduated from William Penn High School, class of 1940. She earned a BA in Library Science from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, class of 1944. Mary Elizabeth’s career included a year as librarian at Radnor High School (Wayne, PA), assistant librarian at Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy (Great Neck, NY), head of the library at U.S. Steel Corp., and assistant to the executive officer at the New York Public Library. While raising her son, she taught in the Harrisburg public schools. She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Harrisburg. She also was a member of Special Libraries Association, Phi Mu Fraternity, and The English-Speaking Union of New York City. She loved travel, art, and politics. She was a fully alive, joyful person with a marvelous sense of humor and a deep Christian faith. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, the Rev. Richard and Katharine Burnett; three step-grandchildren, Gordon Malin, of New York City, Alexandra and her husband Matthew Schumann, of Northern Virginia, and Abigail Malin, of San Francisco, and a new great grandson, Cooper Schumann, of Northern Virginia. A funeral will be held at 11 AM on Monday, October 25, 2010 at First United Methodist Church, 260 Boas St., Harrisburg, PA. Interment will follow in Paxtang Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 6 PM on Sunday November 21, 2010 at Trinity Episcopal Church on Capitol Square, 125 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH. The Rt. Rev. Thomas E Breidenthal, Episcopal Bishop of Southern Ohio will preside. Memorial contributions in memory of Mary Elizabeth Bitzer may be sent to: First United Methodist Church, 260 Boas St., Harrisburg, PA. or The College of William and Mary’s Earl Gregg Swem Library, P.O. Box 8794, 400 Landrum Dr., Williamsburg, VA 23187-8794. Arrangements entrusted to SCHOEDINGER MIDTOWN CHAPEL. Online condolences may be made to www.schoedinger.com