In the final hours of Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, Rita Louise “Lou” Jennings Bittle, aged 93, passed away at her home in Clarkston. She was born to Anah R. Jennings and Helen E. Wedhoff Jennings at their home in Joseph, Ore. The family moved several times during her childhood; her favorite memories were of McMinnville and Beaverton, in Oregon.
She married Charles L. Bittle in 1950, and they shared 61 years until he passed away in 2011. She moved from Joseph to her husband’s hometown, Clarkston, where they raised four children. Louise is survived by her son Doug Bittle (Sandy), of Clarkson, her daughter Sheri Hood (Robin), of Clarkston, her nephew and chosen son, Jerry Prout (Kathy), of Pullman, her sister Sharon Courtney (Mick), of Lewiston, and son-in-law Robert Anderson, of Clarkston. Her grandchildren survive her: Meredith Everett, Dax Anderson, Cinnamon Anderson (Ronica), Nick Bittle (Amie), Sarah Rowan (Justin), Melissa Bittle, Cassandra Bittle, Kyron Bittle, Heather Bann (Chris), Brandon Weller (Leslie) and Danika Hollis (Terry). She was blessed to have a large family of multigenerational grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all of whom held a special place in her heart.
Louise is preceded in death by her husband, daughter Connie Anderson, infant son Gerald Bittle, son Richard Bittle, her parents, brother Jerry Jennings, and sisters Betty Ward, infant Ada Lou Jennings, Joyce Tautfest and Ann Rayburn.
Louise was employed at JCPenney Co. as an inventory clerk and then as a data entry clerk from 1963 to 1990, when she retired.
Their first home was purchased in 1960; it was a small house with great potential on an acre of property. They soon began an extensive DIY remodeling project to enlarge and update the home. When that project was completed, they built a serene, magical Japanese-style garden, complete with a koi pond, a tearoom and a waterfall with a meandering stream winding throughout. Many visitors enjoyed their creation as their garden was featured in the Symphony Garden Tours.
She will always be remembered as a gentle but strong-willed, thoughtful and kind woman, someone who instinctively knew when family and friends needed a shoulder to lean on, quietly listening without judgment, providing a peaceful silence in our busy lives.
A celebration of her life is planned for the spring.
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