Christine R. “Chris” Bitting, 53, Syracuse, passed away at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at her home. She was born March 3, 1962, in Springfield, Ohio, to H. Stanley and H. Marie (Beamer) Gardner.

She attended Goshen High School, graduated in 1980 from Wawasee High School and then attended Lutheran Nursing School in Fort Wayne. She lived most of her life in the Goshen and Syracuse area and was married on June 29, 1996, in Leesburg,  to Douglas D. “Doug” Bitting who survives. She was employed at Triangle Rubber in Goshen for 10 plus years in the personnel and payroll department and formerly worked at Vitco in Nappanee.

She formerly attended the First English Lutheran Church in Goshen.

She is survived by her husband: Doug Bitting, Syracuse; Kelli (James) Rolston, Syracuse; Mat (Sarah) Conway, Cromwell; and Trenton (Sarah) Conway, Muncie; mother: Marie Watson, Syracuse; two stepdaughters: April (Troy) Deeter, Nappanee; Heather (Al) Chupp, Etna Green; three stepsons: Chad Bitting, Goshen; Courtney (Jamie) Bitting, Etna Green; and Josh Bitting, Ark.; sister: Kim (Gene) Gingerich, Goshen; brother: Paul (Sherri) Gardner, Goshen; two half-brothers: Jason Gardner; Okla.; and Joshua (Amy) Gardner, Ocean Springs, Miss.; three stepsisters: Sharon (Charles) Stuckman, Syracuse; Alicia (Steve) Kiser, Fort Myers, Fla.; and Mitzi Wenkleneau, Fort Myers, Fla.; 16 grandchildren; and 16 step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father; stepfather: Donald M. Watson; and brother: H. Mark Gardner.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at Owen Family Funeral Home, Syracuse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 20, in the funeral home with Rev. Lenny Krebs, retired pastor from the former Benton Free Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Syracuse Cemetery.