Delbert Maurice Gittinger

March 25, 1948 - November 23, 1999

Delbert Maurice Gittinger, age 51, 1723 Whetstone River Road South, Marion, Ohio 43302, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon November 23rd as a result of an auto-motorcycle accident. Del was born on March 25, 1948 in Sandusky, Ohio, the son of Glen Gittinger of Sandusky and the late Lucille Johnson Gittinger. On December 19, 1970 he married Nadine Fluke and she survives.

A Piano and Organ Technician and a noted musician and composer, Del operated Del's Music Studio from his home. He graduated from Perkins High School in Sandusky and the Ohio State University School of Music. He was employed as a band director at Delta and Delaware Hayes High School for two years. He had been secretary for the Marion Musician's Association for 15 years and had just taken a position on the board of directors of the Columbus Federation of Musicians. Del was a member of the Ohio State University Marching Band Alumni Association, the Marion Concert Band and the Worthington Civic Band.

He was an active member of the 1st Nazarene Church in Marion where he participated in the Crusader's Sunday School Class. Del is also survived by his two sons, Christopher of Marion and Jason of Detroit; his daughter, Elizabeth (Matthew) Fox; and two granddaughters, Zoe and Zara Fox of Costa Mesa, Calif.; four brothers, Glen Eugene of Sandusky, Paul (Virginia) of Granger, Ind., Dale (Christie) of Bellevue and Bruce (Jone) of Fairfax, Va.; one sister, Jeannette (Ray) Smith of Upper Sandusky.

Funeral Service for Delbert Gittinger will be held at 10 am Saturday, November 27, 1999 in the 1st Nazarene Church, Marion with the Rev. David Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at Marion Cemetery. Friends may call at the Church on Friday from 2 - 4 and 6 - 9 pm and for one hour prior to the time of service on Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ohio State University School of Music or the 1st Church of the Nazarene. Timson Allen Melroy Funeral Home in Caledonia is in charge of arrangements.

Del played alto horn as a member of the marching band in 1968 and 1969.