Edward C. Spittle, Jr., of Jonestown, passed away on Saturday, April 17, 2021, due to Covid-19 complications at WellSpan GSH- Lebanon. He was the husband of Oriana L. Keefer Spittle. On October 4th, they would have celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.
Born in Williamstown on August 3, 1944, he was the son of the late Edward C. Sr. and Clara Stauffer Spittle. After 39 years of service, Ed retired from the PA Army National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. He was a member of the Jonestown United Methodist Church.
Ed was very active in local softball and baseball programs. He coached Little League in Williamstown and Jonestown, as well as coaching Jonestown Junior Legion Baseball Team to two State Championships in 1974 & 1979. He later went on to coach baseball at Lebanon Valley College from 1985-1990. He was an Assistant Coach from 1991-1995 and the Head Coach in 2003 & 2004 for the Northern Lebanon Softball Team. He then became the Assistant Softball Coach at Lebanon Valley College from 2005-2011. Ed returned to Northern Lebanon in 2017 and was the current Head Softball Coach.
Ed was inducted into the PA American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame (1986), the Central Chapter of PA Sports Hall of Fame (2012), and the Central Penn College Athletics Hall of Fame (2017). The Jonestown Junior Legion Baseball Field was named the Ed Spittle Field (2004). He was an active member of the Ashlar Lodge No. 570 F.&A.M., Lykens, the American Legion Post 883 Jonestown, the Perseverance Fire Co., R Field & Stream, as well as many other service clubs and community organizations.
Beyond his coaching career and many awards and accomplishments, the most significant impact Ed had was on his family and community. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, as well as a great friend to so many. He enjoyed time with family and friends and loved to travel. His legacy will continue in the countless lives he has touched over the years in so many positive ways. Whether it was someone he coached or someone he ran into on the street, Ed always had a story to tell.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Gregory A. husband of Donna F. Spittle, of Lebanon, his daughter, Kimberly S. wife of Robert L. Bashore, of Fredericksburg, and grandchildren, Hannah, Mitchell, Emma, and Aryah.
There will be a viewing on Tuesday evening, April 27, 2021, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A Masonic service will precede the viewing at 3:30 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the Kreamer & Lum Funeral Home & Crematory, Rt. 72 & Camp Meeting Rd., Jonestown. There will be no viewing, but a visitation will be held a half hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. The family requests that everyone who attends the funeral to please wear a mask.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jonestown Borough Ballfield Light Fund for the lighting of Ed Spittle Field. Contributions may be mailed to Jonestown Borough Center, 295 S. Mill St., Jonestown, PA 17038.