Cleon Benjamin Beittel was the 4th child of 10 (8 lived past infancy) of Benjamin David Beittel and Lavinia Heller Ebersole Beittel in Columbia, PA.
He met and married Gertrude S. Albright Beittel June 6, 1910. Gertrude was the daughter of Albert Alvin Albright and Tabitha "Anna" Albright. Cleon and Gertrude had 5 children (all lived past infancy):Cleon Austin Beittel, Sr., Benjamin L. Beittel, Sr., James R. Beittel, Sr., Anna Catherine Beittel Panther, and Clifford Albright Beittel.

REMBERANCES by John L. Souders
Cleon Benjamin Beittel and Gertrude Albright Beittel took in their son's daughters Louise, Viva (Tiny), and Marie from his first marriage, eighteen months after the twins were born. The year was 1939. Cleon Austin's wife suffered a mental breakdown and was unable to care for the children. They remained with their grandparents until the twins Tiny and Marie reach the age of twelve. The year was 1950. The twins then moved to live with their father. Louis remained with her grandparents. Their father couldn't divorce Marie Weary because of her mental state. Cleon was required to have two doctors' signatures to get a divorce under these circumstances. During this turmoil in his life he had relocated to Maryland and was living in Mt Lena. He married Freda Virginia Bowers in 1960 the mother of his two sons Cleon Jr. and Michael Beittel's daughters, Marie and Viva were the witnesses to the marriage. Son Cleon Jr. fixed the marriage dinner.

The girls mother Marie Weary Beittel went to live with her parents but never had any significant improvement causing her parents to commit her to the Harrisburg hospital. When the twins first visited their mother they were both 32 years old. The girls only ever visited her a few times and never really got to know her.

Marie and Viva (Tiny) were 12 years old when they moved to Maryland and began a new life with their father, step mother and step siblings. Times were different then and the approach of how to tell children of a change this big went with the times. The day before actually moving Gertrude told the twin they would be moving tomorrow to live with their father. Nothing else was said. It was an uncertain time for the girls. They shared a room upstairs and clung to each other for support.

Their upbringing of a more innocent time and fond memories were with their grand parents Cleon Benjamin Beittel and Gertrude Albright Beittel. Not to say that once older their relationships matured and were also good with their father and step mother

As a great grandson to Cleon and Gertrude I have memories of a two story home with their son Clifford living upstairs. Great grand pap Cleon was a painter and had a small studio beyond the kitchen. I remember playing in that room. The door way was in the center of the kitchen with two steps down into the next room. The kitchen reflected of the times. A corner built in hutch with glass doors filled with old china. A home style kitchen flat hutch along the back wall behind the kitchen table. I remember Aunt Tiny, Mom and my great grandparents' playing cards all through the afternoon while we visit. As a kid you remember certain things. I remember liking the smell of pipe smoke and great grand pap making people figures with his pipe cleaners for me. I remember him putting jelly on ham. Funny what you remember.

My great grand parent's card playing extended to my grandfather and his children. During the 1960's and early 70's my mom Marie would gather Jeff and I up to go to Tiny's, during the weekends when my father played music. He had a band called the Golden Sounds. It was his passion and a way to earn extra money. While he was out doing this Grand pap Cleon Austin, Michael, Tiny her husband Harold and my mother would play cards. Looking back I can say their children got a special bond because of this one interaction. Our parents would buy pizza and we kids would stay up to watch late night horror movies. For the most part we would all fall asleep before the movies ever ended. Jeff and I got to know what it was like to have sisters. Very memorable times we'll never forget.

John Souders,Marie Beittel Souders' son Feb 08, 2012


Unknown name and date of newspaper -
Cleon Benjamin Beittel, 84, of 54 S. West St., died Tuesday morning at his home.
He was born Oct. 11, 1890, in Columbia, and was a son of the late Benjamin and Vinia Beittel. He resided in Carlisle for the past 45 years.
He was a manager for the former Trimmer's 5 & 10 Store for 21 years. He was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Gertrude Albright Beittel, to whom he was married for more than 64 years; four sons, Clean A. Beittel, Boonsboro, Md.; James R. Beittel, Oakview, Calif.; Benjamin L. Beittel, 333 Franklin St.; and Clifford A. Beittel, 54 S. West St.; a daughter, Mrs. George (Anna) Panther, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; two brothers, Fred W. Beittel, Mitchell, S.D.; and Austin Beittel, Lancaster; 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St., with the Rev. Dr. Gerald D. Kauffman officiating. Burial will be in Westminster Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the time of services Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to the South Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Heart Association, 2915 Wayne St., Harrisburg.