Ina H. Bitting, Resident Since 1926

Mrs. Ina H. Bitting, a nearly lifelong resident of Pacific Palisades, died on the morning of February 14 after a lengthy illness. She was 86. Born in Hollywood in 1918, Ina moved to Pacific Palisades in 1926 when her parents, Dr. Henry and Edith Andrews, purchased a home on Iliff Street. She had three siblings. When Ina was 16 and a student at University High School in Santa Monica, 18-year-old Robert Bitting arrived in the Palisades. At the time, the Methodist church was the only church in town, and Bob and Ina met during the church’s activities for young people. ‘We got along real well,’ Bob later recalled, and they married on December 18, 1937, with Rev. John Gabrielson presiding. Ina had graduated from business college in Santa Monica before the marriage, but became a full-time homemaker and mother of two children, Barbara and Kenneth. Ina was an active member of the Methodist Church for more than 80 years. At age 16, she joined the church choir, where she sang almost every Sunday for more than 60 years, and after her children had left home for college, she served as the church’s wedding coordinator for more than 25 years. She was also active in many local civic organizations. She was a 50-year member of the Woman’s Club, including a stint as president, and a participant in the Community Council, serving as the organization’s secretary under chairman Bob Abernethy. Most of all, however, Ina was a beloved and faithful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Howard and Jim Andrews, and her sister Winifred Chambers. In addition to her husband of 67 years, she is survived by her daughter, Barbara (husband Willy) of Nevada City, California; her son, Kenneth (wife Virginia) of Mystic, Connecticut; and grandchildren Christopher, Matthew, and Stephanie Kollmeyer and Jennifer and Adrienne Bitting. A memorial service will be held at noon, March 13, at the Community United Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent in Ina’s honor to the Methodist Church in Ina’s honor.