I met Jim Bittle in 1968 when I had the privilege of being his secretary when he was Director of Infectious Diseases at Dow Chemical in Zionsville, Indiana. He was a wonderful person — kind-hearted, generous and a great boss. He had a great sense of humor as well as an appreciation for practical jokes. It was a happy place to work, and I’m sure work production and morale were vastly improved because of that. I remember one April Fools’ Day instigating a number of April Fool pranks on him. One of them involved getting all the women of childbearing age to walk into his office, close the door and announce their pregnancy and that they would be leaving soon. He finally caught on after the second or third such announcement; and while he enjoyed the joke, he was relieved that he wouldn’t soon have to be replacing all of us! Several more jokes on Jim that day, which he seemed to thoroughly enjoy, and then it was time for me to go home. But I could not get my Volkswagen Beetle to move no matter how much gas I gave the car. Confused and upset, I finally got out of my car to get someone from the office to come out and help me. And that’s when I realized that Jim had had his own April Fools’ joke — he and Dr. Mike Kenny were standing in the doorway of the building watching me struggle, all the while laughing their heads off. They had laced a heavy rope — the kind you could moor a battleship with (or so I’m remembering it) through my bumper and then lashed it to the 4” x 4” riveted into the ground serving as a car stop parking block. End result: I was being held captive, and they were having the time of their lives enjoying their revenge. Well, mercifully they untied the rope and I was able to go home, shaken and chastened. It was a good April Fools’ Day. 
Elizabeth (Betty) Jean Collver Lanier 

To J. and the entire Bittle family-  I didn't know your father, but after reading the memorial page about him, I'm amazed by how  accomplished he was, and just how full of a life he lived.  I'm sorry for your loss and my condolences to all of you.  

I am proud to be the Bugler who will deliver the honorable 24 notes of Taps for James Bittle today, Sept 6, 2020.

  I also started my 24th year as an employee at Scripps Health in Corporate Finance.

God Bless
Michael W. Timson, MBA
Scripps Health

Asst. Director Bugles Across America- CA 2007-2012
858.863.3370

I had the privilege of meeting Doctor Bittle several years ago.  He is one of those folks to be admired for his great humility, character and community service.  One needs to look no further than his family relationships to realize the extent of this man’s unconditional love and affection.  He and his son J were best friends that were comfortable in each other’s presence, sharing lunch or perhaps talking stories.  

When a lot of folks are curled up on the couch in retirement, Doctor Bittle was still out as active member of Community Service groups doing his part to make life better for others.  I always thought of him as the quiet, unassuming coach that helped us become better ball players in Pony League, the usher at church or the good neighbor you asked to watch your home while on vacation.  Never one to ask “what’s in it for me,” he just wished to be a good guy helping out.  

Mr. Roger’s use to often comfort children by telling them during times of turmoil/confusion to “Look for the Helpers, you will always find people helping.”  Today we celebrate the passing of a very good Helper that we can only hope to emulate a little.    


I had the privilege of meeting Doctor Bittle several years ago.  He is one of those folks to be admired for his great humility, character and community service.  One needs to look no further than his family relationships to realize the extent of this man’s unconditional love and affection.  He and his son J were best friends that were comfortable in each other’s presence, sharing lunch or perhaps talking stories. 
 
When a lot of folks are curled up on the couch in retirement, Doctor Bittle was still out as active member of Community Service groups doing his part to make life better for others.  I always thought of him as the quiet, unassuming coach that helped us become better ball players in Pony League, the usher at church or the good neighbor you asked to watch your home while on vacation.  Never one to ask “what’s in it for me,” he just wished to be a good guy helping out.  

Mr. Roger’s use to often comfort children by telling them during times of turmoil/confusion to “Look for the Helpers, you will always find people helping.”  Today we celebrate the passing of a very good Helper that we can only hope to emulate a little.    


Jim & Ruthie Bittle lived at Casa de Mañana Retirement Community at 849 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 9203, for awhile. They had their meals with newly arrival people and one just happened to be Mrs Coors, owner of the Coors Brewing Company.  She said that she had an invitation to the opening of the “President Ronald Regan Presidential Library" at 40 Presidential Dr, Simi Valley, CA 93065, and she didn’t have a way to get there! Jim offered to drive her there with Ruthie's permission and quickly Ruthie said yes! 
I heard all of the above from Jim and he also said that they had a pleasant time talking both going and returning, but the experience while there was really surreal. We met with many dignitaries including Mrs Nancy Reagan and saw many very special gifts that were presented on display and Mrs Coors gave a large donation to the Library.  Jim said the whole experience was fantastic! 

As Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, and representing the entire School's faculty, staff, and students, we express our condolences on the passing of Dr. Bittle. He was our first distinguished alumni, and a bright star in our legacy.  His wit, wisdom, talent, and sense of humor were appreciated by all who knew him.  We were honored to call him one of our professional family and he will be greatly missed.  He lives on through our memories and the impact he made in the world.  We send comfort from afar to his family who loved him and who will honor him during the memorial.

How I met James, was when i was working at JBA, a man walked in with a dog.  Not knowing who he was (being new there), I asked if I could help him. He said, I'm here to see J.  I looked at his dog and this dog had this sling around his leg.  I asked what  that  was for, and he said to help him walk.  I thought to myself, pretty ingenious, to come up with that to help him walk. I found J, and said there is a man with a dog to see you.   He said, "Yes, that's my Dad" and his dog Sparky. He took me out and introduced me, and from that day forward, for years to come, I looked forward to the days when James would come in with Sparky, to go to lunch with J. I enjoyed seeing, and hearing how he and Sparky were doing.  He always had a smile on his face, and always greeted everyone with cheer.  I am humbled by what James accompplished in his life. What an awesome man, that we got to share some time with. We will miss him greatly. Our prayers and love are with the Bittle family.  Mikie & Susie

Dr. Bittle was just a wonderful person. He used to walk with his dog Sparky at the park in University City and that is where I met him when I would go walking/running. I can still picture him walking with Sparky making several loops around the park. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time of your loss.

My family and I were extremely lucky to fortuitously cross paths with Jim, initially, as our next door neighbor on Calle Vista. He was a very great man, as a professional / scientist and exceptionally fine person. I too am a scientist, and Jim and I enjoyed talking about science frequently, beginning in May, 2000 when we moved to Calle Vista. He was very helpful in many aspects of helping me to further my scientific career, with a number of difficult challenges to face. Jim always enjoyed getting the latest updates on my work, and had abundant insightful input. One additional point about him that I admire is the magnitude of his contributions to science and business. He spearheaded the construction of the Molecular Biology Building at the Scripps Research Institute, one of the main buildings there that remains productive and on the forefront of science today. He also likely was responsible for the survival of Amgen, now a very important, large and prosperous pharmaceutical company. When the Amgen founders were nearly out of money, he listened to their ideas at a meeting (if I remember correctly the proposed product was Epogen), thought it was a good idea, and led the financing effort from Johnson & Johnson to support Amgen. The rest is bright history. My stories of Jim's scientific prowess could continue for quite some time, and remained relevant in our most recent visit, about one year ago or so. I continued to enjoy visiting Jim at Barb and Pascal's residence in recent years. It is wonderful how they took care of him. I know he had a lifetime of taking care of others, including his family of course. Again, I could go on and on, but very briefly, Jim was really fun to visit with and discuss other matters, work together in our yards (he took impeccable care of his beautiful landscape next door, we still miss that), and he was a civic leader with a kind heart and very bright mind. I shall miss him dearly. Best regards, Larry Brill and family

Several years after Ruthie passed, I asked Jim to go with Pat and I to the “HOTEL DEL CORONADO FOR A “CHRISTMAS SPECIAL PERFORMANCES SETTING IN THE PREVIOUS 100 YEAR TIME FRAME.” Jim said yes but I would like to bring my sister Beverly with me. I said of course she is more than welcome. We went to a very expensive BUT FANTASTIC PERFORMANCES BY A VARIETY OF PERFORMERS ALL DRESSED IN CLOTHS DATED 100 YEARS AGO! The meal they severed had 5 courses of very special food! At the closing of the evening they had 12 Chiefs all line up in their uniforms and top hats to show who had prepared the food. For Pat and I this was life at it’s best with sharing with our friends!

Jim & Ruthie Bittle were close friends of ours for many years. Jim & Ruthie invited us to spend a weekend at their Cabin in the Sierra Mountains. That was filled with , walks, talks and just being in a place like that was JUST FLAT PEACEFUL WITH TWO BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS! We spent times together in each others homes and I remember Jim walking and talking about his ROSSES. At Each plant 
he would stop and say its botanical name and tell a little story about planting it and fertilities zing it (JIM DID EVERYTHING COMPLETE!).  I organized a MEN's GROUP of 6 Christian Members from Claremont Lutheran Church and Jim was a member. Each meeting we rotated the leader; well when jim lead the meeting he got all of us thinking about his subject more thoroughly.
It usually went a little longer!! 
He loved his dog more than I have ever known anybody love an animal more!
JIM BITTLE WAS MY FRIEND FOR LIFE AND THE HERE AFTER: GOD BLESS JIM BITT LE: HOPE TO SEE YOU SOMETIME JIM AND YOU CAN TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR ROSSES.
YOUR FRIEND ROGER. 


What a special person Jim was to our entire family. We couldn't help but love him. Cliff and I got to play golf with Jim at the Sycuan Casino 9 hole 3 par course where we competed for the title of "Greatest Duffer in the World". What a life he lived! What an amazing journey he traveled. I miss him already. We lost my mom, Bette Cornelius, last August, and now Jim this August. I believe Jim's strong faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior and our God, impacted our family through his friendship with my dad, Charles Cornelius. As a result, our family became Lutherans in Davis California and we now have the same faith and hope that Jim lived in our lives. So thankful for his faith. 

A wonderful life together.  So blessed to have spent my 64 years with this man.  No way to now share here all that our family and my Father and I did together, so to get the space it needs, I am writing along with my sister (and my Father's words too)  too, a story board of his life, including all the Speed and even my trip with Dad to the 1967 Indy 500!  Any moment now there is going to be a new web page on our "ABOUT" JBA Speed Shop website.  It will feature my Dad's incredible career and family story along with  all the Bittle story's since this is an inspiring American Dream about a family business that refuses to quit or go quietly into the night while still working to take over the planet Earth!  Expect to find the navigation offered soon on the James L. Bittle Obituary page.    Cruise with the Angels Dad!  We got this!

OBITUARY

Dr. James L. Bittle, DVM

March 7, 1927 – August 24, 2020

El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley & Memorial Park

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