A graveside service will be held at Southside Cemetery, Southside, AL, on Thursday, August 06, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will be from 1–2 p.m. prior to the graveside service at Collier Butler Funeral Home. Pastor Randy Gunter will officiate.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Mary Frances Gaston, and by his son, Christopher Bittner.
Carl retired from Goodyear Tire and Rubber, closing a steady working life marked by loyalty and pride in a job well done. He attended Gadsden High School, Class of 1968, and carried that hometown connection with him through the years.
Those who knew Carl will remember the familiar things that made him unmistakably himself: his love of Auburn Athletics, cars, NBA basketball, and the occasional slot machine pull. If you saw him out in public, he was probably wearing all black—an instantly recognizable signature that friends came to expect with a smile. Just as memorable was his simple habit of kindness: Carl enjoyed taking donuts to his favorite businesses around town, offering a small, thoughtful gesture that brightened ordinary days.
Carl also had quite a few friends, and he valued those connections deeply. If you talked to Carl on the phone, you were one of his special friends.
Pallbearers will be Drew Anderton, Johnny Ford, Matt Moore, Wesley Gulledge, and Brett Hawkins.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you continue Carl’s legacy by randomly taking donuts to your favorite businesses around town.
