Rollie Joe Bittick, III

The oldest of five children, Joe was born to R J "Pete" and the late Carolyn Newton Bittick on July 18, 1952. After graduation from Georgia Southern in 1974, he moved to Atlanta and was employed by Beck & Gregg, a hardware supplier. He returned to LaGrange in 1976 to join the family business and became president of LaGrange Hardware in 1983, the same year he married Cherry French. Joe was Vice President of Equipment Sales & Service, where he began employment in 1988. He was devoted to his wife, work and golf.

Joe is survived by his wife Cheryl French Bittick; a sister, Saralyn (Moreland) Bell of Atlanta; three brothers, Newt (Jenny) Bittick of LaGrange, Mark (Karmen) Bittick of Atlanta, and Charles (Mimi) Bittick of Birmingham; his father, Pete Bittick of LaGrange; two brothers and sisters in law, Linda and Tommy Clark and Buck and Kim French all of Highlands, NC; and many, much loved, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephew and a great-great niece and nephew. In addition to his mother, Joe was preceded in death by his daughter, Shane Leah Pruett.

A visitation of family and friends will be the evening of Wednesday, October 5th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday morning, October 6th at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, LaGrange Chapel. Burial will be 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon in Westview Cemetery in Atlanta. (www.westviewcemetery.com)

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in memory of Joe be made to Lifelink Foundation (2875 Northwoods Pkwy, Norcross, GA 30071 www.donatelifegeorgia.org) or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are by Sriffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange. 706.884.8636 www.shlagrange.com