Ellen McDonald Bowers Wittel

Ellen McDonald Burke Bowers Wittel

May 20, 1944 - February 10, 2021

Our angel, Ellen, has risen to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Wednesday, February 10, 2021. She began her life’s journey, May 20, 1944, in Roanoke VA. Ellen was raised in nearby Salem by her mother Ellen Burke Bowers and grandmother Ellen McDonald Burke.

Ellen attended Mary Baldwin College and she met her beloved husband William Branch Wittel during summer school in the summer of 1963 at Roanoke College.    

Ellen and Bill have been residents of Gainesville since 1973 where she had a long career in real estate. She began her career as a realtor for Coldwell Banker Heritage Realty. Ellen served as Director of the Hall County Board of Realtors. She then went to work with Norton Realty, from where she retired after 14 years of being an administrative assistant.        

She is survived by her loving husband William Branch Wittel of Gainesville, GA, daughters Caroline Burke Wittel, Atlanta, Ga, Margaret “Loo” Hicks, and her husband William Hicks, grand daughters Katherine Laine Hicks “Lainie” and Margaret “ Meg” Hicks, Gainesville.   

Ellen was active in the community, serving with the Junior Service League, Blue Birds leader, and various volunteer programs. She was an active member of First Baptist Church Gainesville and member of the Seekers Sunday school class.  

Ellen was known to be very creative. She had the gift of being able to write a skit, jingle or poem, at the drop of a hat. Her sense of humor was un matched. Ellen always found humor in any situation, good or bad. She never met a stranger and was loved by all that knew her.          

Ellen was a huge fan of the beach.  She and Bill spent much time walking the shore together on family vacations, or on trips with beloved friends near and far. Sunshine, fresh air and the smell of salt air were a few of her favorite things.

Her greatest love was being a mother!!! Her creative spirit was manifested in raising her children, Birthday parties of scavenger hunts, pie throwing parties and water balloon fights were just a few of the highlights for her children. To this day her daughters and their friends talk about how much fun it was to mop Ellen’s kitchen floor. She would turn her her kitchen into an indoor slip and slide with a bucket of soapy water.  Ellen loved creating halloween costumes for her children and her friends.  Ask anyone who wore one of her “designer” Halloween costumes and they will laugh and tell you that you won't find it in Party City.     

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, February 13, 2021 at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel. Dr. William Coates, Pastor Jeremy Shoulta, and Rev Mark Green will officiate Ellen’s memorial service. Internment at First Baptist Church columbarium will be led by Pastor Shoulta for family members prior to Ellen’s celebration of life.

For viewing the service live

https://www.facebook.com/MemRiversideNorth        

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Ellen can be made to First Baptist Church Ministry of Caring and the Alzheimers Association.

Memorial Park Funeral Home North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Dr. is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.