Brandon E. Bitner, 14, Mount Pleasant Mills
MOUNT PLEASANT MILLS — Brandon E. Bitner, 14, of Mount Pleasant Mills, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 5, 2010.
In addition to his parents, Brandon is survived by his step-father, Palmer Simpson Jr., and a sister, Crystal Wilt, at home; a step-brother, Gunnery Sgt. Palmer Simpson III and wife Lisa, of North Carolina, and a step-sister Kristina and husband Sgt. Brian Philips, of Kansas; maternal grandparents, Shirley Shaffer and husband Robert, of Annville; paternal grandparents, Sandra DeChamplain and husband Thomas, of Marysville; also many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was born Jan. 2, 1996 in Harrisburg, a son of Tammy M. (Shaffer) Simpson, of Mount Pleasant Mills and David Bitner, Duncannon.
Brandon was in the ninth grade at Midd-West High School, Middleburg.
He was an accomplished violinist, having been a member of the Susquehanna Youth Orchestra in 2009. Brandon enjoyed video games and was a skilled artist.
The family will receive friends for the visitation from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, followed by the funeral at 11, all at the George P. Garman Funeral Homes Inc., 606 N. Front St., Liverpool.
Burial will be in Orchard Hills Cemetery and Memorial Park, Shamokin Dam.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed in loving memory of Brandon to Susquehanna University, c/o Susquehanna University Youth Orchestra, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870.
Hello, My name is Lauren, Lori for short, i am a senior in high school. i never knew brandon, but after hearing about this tragedy, it made me realize that there is an epidemic going on in this world. I am a goth, and i am also bisexual. I am lucky enough to have not gotten bullied during my high school years, and so i would like to give you my condolences. I wish there was something i could’ve done, something, to just put an end to Bullying, forever. i do have to admitt, i was picked on in middle school however, and so i felt brandon’s pain. It’s terrible, the feeling you get when you feel you have nowhere else to turn, and you don’t want to worry your parents and loved ones. It really is a tragedy. Why must someone so sweet, and kind hearted be tourtured? I have entered this contest. Its called “Doodle4Google” every year there is a different theme, this year’s theme is “What i would like to do someday” my answer? Stop Bullying once and for all. And so i would like to include Brandon’s picture in my design. Toward’s the end of this contest people get to vote for the best design, and i would appreciate it if you were to vote for mine. If you have any comments please e-mail me at liebelori23q@yahoo.com. It is greatly appreciated. Maybe, just maybe, this contest will reach out to those in need so that together we may stop another teen from ending it.