Paul Keith Bitter

On October 13, 2022, surrounded by the family he dearly loved, Paul Keith Bitter’s joy was complete as he unexpectedly left his earthly home for the eternal. Services for Paul, 75, of Whitehouse will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Pastor Luke Bilberry and Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin officiating. Burial will follow at Whitehouse Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Paul was a devoted husband, proud father, doting grandpa, and genuine friend. To know Paul means that you heard stories of his pursuit of adventure; from backpacking the mountains of New Mexico on his horse, Scooter, with his buddies, surfing off the coast of San Diego, sailing with the yacht club on Lake Tyler, fly fishing the beautiful rivers of North Carolina, to cycling as often as he could get on his bike (even at 75). He could often be seen on Kickapoo Creek in a kayak with friends Hal and Steve and his sidekick and dog, Kipp. Paul embraced life fully. Paul and his twin brother, John, were born on December 22, 1946, in Springfield, Illinois to Melvin Bitter and Gertrude Jungen Bitter. One of two sets of twins and six children, Paul loved his family. Paul graduated from Worcester State University, serving as president of his senior class. After joining the Peace Corps and hitchhiking from where he served in Mexico to Austin, Paul earned his Master of Divinity at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he met some of his lifelong friends. He met and married his beautiful wife, Martha Rose McAfee, in 1975 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as he interned at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. Together, Paul and Martha served churches in Oklahoma City and Mangum, Oklahoma before moving to Austin, Texas for Paul to complete his chaplaincy program. They then made Tyler home for Paul to become a chaplain at University of Texas Health Science Center. Paul’s care, compassion, and desire to see people healthy and whole spiritually, physically, and mentally came from his great faith in God and his own experience with congestive heart failure and polio as a small child. He practiced as a licensed professional counselor at his private practice in Tyler for the last 35 years while also serving the Presbyterian Church through the Grace Presbytery and retired as a Presbyterian Minister in 2013. As evidenced by the countless daily journals of life he leaves behind, Paul loved God and loved his family. Filled with scripture and notes from the mundane, his journals are a window to what he valued most. One of the greatest joys of Paul’s life was his children and grandchildren. He always made sure they knew how proud he was of them. He usually had a camera in his hand to capture their accomplishments and eagerly shared the pictures with anyone he spent time with. As his children, we will miss receiving texts with his infamous selfies while cycling the winding roads of East Texas, the sound of his amazing laugh, the touch of his strong hugs, listening to his never-ending cheesy jokes, and random phone calls just to let us know how much he loved us. We hope to embrace life and leave legacies behind that are as rich as Dad’s. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Gertrude, and sisters Regina and Christine. Paul leaves behind his loving wife of 46 years, Martha (McAfee), son Jarrod (Marlo Thompson), daughters Rachel and Kathryn (Luke Bilberry) as well as his grandchildren, Emily Claire and Allison Paige Bitter and Madelyn Kate, Noah Luke and Wyatt Paul Bilberry and their sibling he was eager to meet due in January, his brothers John (Mary Johnson), and Mark, and sister Pam (Cliff Obertuck), along with many in laws, nieces, and nephews. Pallbearers will be Luke Bilberry, Marlo Bitter, Emily Bitter, Allison Bitter, Madelyn Bilberry, Noah Bilberry and Wyatt Bilberry. Honorary pallbearers are John Bitter, Mark Bitter, Steve Evans, Hal James, and David Norcom. Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway in Tyler. In lieu of flowers, do something that Paul loved to do—go on an adventure, spoil someone you love, and spread kindness.

Paul Keith Bitter

December 22, 1946 - October 13, 2022