Richard ‘Dick’ Wayne Bittle

Richard ‘Dick’ Wayne Bittle

Richard “Dick” Wayne Bittle, of Marion, died Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, at 11:45 a.m. in St. Louis, with his family by his side.  

He was born on June 21, 1939, the son of Howard and Pauline Frick Bittle in Union County.

Survivors include his wife, Pamela Kay Yates Bittle; a daughter, Lisa Michele Cavaness and husband Jon of Marion; a son, Richard Jason and wife, Robyn, of St. Louis; grandchildren Nicholas Scott Cavaness of San Francisco, Calif., Zachary Michael Cavaness of Marion, Benjamin Theodore Bittle and Brooks Emmett Bittle of St. Louis; a brother, Dean and sister-in-law Sharon, their children Mark (Sharon), Todd (Beth) and Amy Brombaugh (Matt); a brother, Ronald and sister-in-law Peggy and their child Brad (Laurie); a brother, Bob; brother Randy and sister-in-law Lynn and their children Nathan (April), Max (Katie) and Wesley; nephew Eric and his many great-nieces and nephews, along with several aunts, uncles and cousins.  

Mr. Bittle was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Pauline; a brother, Gary; his grandparents, Walter and Cora (Lingle) Bittle and Daniel and Doris (Ferrell) Frick.

He attended Anna public schools, graduating from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School in 1958. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Anna.  

After high school, he attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale, majoring in communication, with the goal of eventually working in radio/TV.  

While attending college, he spun records as a DJ for WRAJ radio in Anna, where he would dedicate records to his sweetheart and future wife, Pamela Kay, whom he married in 1963.  

While the dream of working in radio/TV never materialized, he would fondly recall his time spent as a radio DJ.  

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1962 and attended basic training at Fort Smith, Ark., and advanced infantry training at Fort Dix, N.J. He was honorably discharged in 1963, returning back to Southern Illinois by way of hitchhiking from New Jersey.

Always a people person, he switched gears and found his calling in the hospitality industry.  

He began his hospitality career operating the Dairy Queen in Marion and then working for ARA Slater Food Service as a manager trainee, where he assisted in establishing the food service for the then newly built SIU Arena.  

Shortly thereafter, he opened the Sirloin Room Steak Restaurant in Carbondale. It was here that Richard got his first taste of entrepreneurship, hoping to create the Sirloin Room concept into a chain of steak restaurants.  

He was then provided an opportunity to work for the Holiday Inn in Carbondale.  

After attending Holiday Inn Innkeeper’s School in Memphis, he became the innkeeper of the Benton Holiday Inn and eventually moved to Marion opening the full service Holiday Inn. 

Richard and Kay would settle in Marion and raise their family.  It was at the Holiday Inn in Marion where his talent of serving and entertaining people would blossom.  

Always one to do things his way, he then moved on to his true calling and embarked upon a long journey of entrepreneurship operating a coal mine with his brothers, developing real estate and eventually realizing his dream of building a hotel by opening the Shoney’s Inn Marion, where he was able to work alongside his children Lisa and Jason and other team members, serving as a mentor to some whom have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the hospitality industry.

In 2008, he was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to continue his service to people by joining the Marion Medical Mission, assisting with the building of water wells in Embangweni, Malawi, Africa.  

He was an avid genealogist, having assumed the role of family genealogist and spent countless hours researching family lines and DNA information.  

His hobbies included golf, politics, bird watching and was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

He will be remembered by his family as a loving father, grandfather and uncle and a caring, thoughtful friend and mentor who never forgot a name.

A visitation service was held Sunday, Sept. 16, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion. A celebration of life for the family will be held at a later date.

Memorials can be made to the Marion Medical Mission. 

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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