Elta K. Bitz

Elta K. Bitz, 82; ex-council leader Elta K. Bitz, a past president of West Reading Borough Council, died June 22 at 2 a.m. in Berks Heim Annex, where she had resided since April.

Bitz, 82, formerly of Penn Avenue, West Reading, was predeceased by her husband, John O. Bitz, on March 15, 1988.

She was a member of West Reading Borough Council from 1978 to June 2001 and served as president in 1984.

Born in Wahpeten, N.D., she was a daughter of the late Gustav and Matilda (Enge) Johnson.

Bitz and her husband were the owners-operators of Broth Electronics, West Reading, from 1947 to 1990.

She was a 1938 graduate of Valley City State Teachers College, Jamestown, N.D.

Bitz was a member of St. John's Reformed Church, Sinking Spring.

She was named the West Reading citizen of the year in 1988 by the West Reading Freedom Fest Committee.

Bitz was president of West Reading Parent-Teacher Association in 1963 and 1964.

She was president of the Women's Club of West Reading from 1965 to 1968; 1972 to 1975 and from 1982 to 1998.

Bitz was treasurer and co-chairman of the West Reading Bicentennial Committee.

She was president of the Soroptimist Club of Berks County from 1979 to 1981; 1985 to 1986 and 1988 to 1989.

From 1965 to 1975, Bitz was ways and means chairwoman of the West Reading Fourth of July Committee.

She was Republican committee woman for the Third Precinct in West Reading.

Surviving is a son, Kevin G., West Lawn.

Other survivors include a sister, Juanita (Johnson) Trent, Bremerton, Wash.; and two grandchildren.

Services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., West Reading. Burial will be in Sinking Spring Cemetery.