Gene R. Bittenbender, 63, of Saylorsburg died Monday, May 2 in the Hospice Unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest.

He was the husband of Diann (Frantz) Bittenbender. They had observed their 42nd wedding anniversary on April 6.

Born in East Stroudsburg, he was a son of Catherine (Tittle) Dotter of Saylorsburg.

A 1972 graduate of Pleasant Valley High School, Gene had worked at Flexicon in Bethlehem for ten years and prior to that he was a machinist at Cooper Power Systems in East Stroudsburg for thirty years.

He was a member of St. Matthew's United Church of Christ in Kunkletown and the Kunkletown Rod & Gun Club.

In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by a daughter, Magen Snyder and her husband Glenn of Kunkletown; a son, Mark Bittenbender of Saylorsburg; two half-sisters, Cindy Behler and her husband Rick of Wind Gap and Debra Palmisano of Palmer Township and two grandchildren, Nickolas and Hailee. He was preceded in death by a brother Larry.

There will be a viewing on Wednesday, May 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM from the Kresge Funeral Home, 1763 Route 209 Brodheadsville. Cremation will follow in the H. G. Smith Crematory, Stroudsburg. A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 6 at 12:00 PM from St. Matthew's UCC with Rev. Suzanne Brooks-Cope and Rev. Scott Brooks-Cope officiating. Burial of his cremated remains will follow in St. Matthew's Cemetery, Kunkletown.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Matthew's UCC, 102 Church Road, Kunkletown,, PA 18058 or to the Kunkletown Rod & Gun Club, P.O. Box 596, Kunkletown, PA 18058.

www.kresgefuneralhome.com