James R. Wittman, 87, of 1851 Bucktail Road and a resident of Pinecrest Manor passed away Sunday, June 5, 2016, at the Pinecrest Manor after an illness of the past several months. He was born April 6, 1929, in Saint Marys, son of the late Norbert and Dolores Distler Wittman. He was a lifelong resident of the area and was a graduate of Central Catholic High School, class of 1947. He was a retired employee of the Keystone Carbon Company, retiring in 1991.
On July 14, 1951, in the Saint Mark’s Church in Emporium, he married Ina Harpster who survives. He is also survived by two daughters, Vicki Petrazio and her husband, Eric, of Roanoke, VA; Connie Cornilio and her husband, Tom, of Saint Marys; three sons, Michael Wittman and his wife, Julie, of Saint Marys; Gregory Wittman of DuBois; Douglas Wittman and his wife, Susan, of Saint Marys; and 9 grandchildren, Eric Petrazio, Emily Petrazio, Dominic Petrazio, Katie Kuczynski, Adam Cornelio, Jimmy Wittman, Tom Wittman, Ryan Wittman, Laira Reuscher; and by 5 great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Roth and Martha Braun. He was the last member of his immediate family.
Jim was a member of Queen of the World Church and a veteran of the Korean War having served in the United States Army. He was a master woodworker having built homes for most of his life, enjoyed the Steelers, camp, and was an avid bowler. He enjoyed making and teaching the art of making maple syrup.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Queen of the World Church on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at 10:00 AM, with the Rev. Richard Allen, pastor, officiating. Full military rites will be accorded by the Saint Marys Servicemen’s Burial Detail. Burial will follow in the Saint Marys Cemetery. Visitation is at Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 PM.
Memorials, if desired, can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1121 State Street, Suite 301, Erie, PA 16501-1920 or to the Pinecrest Manor, 763 Johnsonburg Road, Saint Marys, PA 15857.
Online condolences may be offered at www.lynch-radkowski.com.