James Sitzler
James Allen (Preacher) Sitzler, 84, of Cleveland passed away on Friday morning, December 14, 2018, in a local hospital.
He was born in Tellico Plaines in 1934. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he served in Korea in 1952-53. He received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He retired from Bowater after 38.5 years of service. He was of the Baptist faith. Preacher was known, by all, as a loyal Tennessee Vols football fan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fate and Gussie Sitzler and son, Mitch Ward.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; sons, Mike (Shannon) Ward of Cleveland and Allen Sitzler of Knoxville; grandsons, Ian and Jacob Ward of Cleveland; sisters, Geraldine (Jim) Blair of Athens, Golda (Marlin) Ellis of Mt. Vernon, Nell (Jake) Colquitt of Columbus, Ga., Creole (Doc) Watson of Madisonville, and Johnnie (Danny) Leedy of Atlanta; favorite niece, Diane Slack of Etowah and favorite nephew, Mike Colquitt of Columbus, Ga.
Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18, in the chapel of Fike- Randolph & Son Funeral Home with B.J. Walls officiating. Interment will follow on Wednesday, Dec. 19, in Sunset Memorial Gardens with Royce McBride, Roger Frazier, Jason Smith, Reggie Tucker, Charles Rapier, and Clay Greene serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Max Parrott, Mark Bess, Willie Jenkins, and Todd McMinn.
His family with receive friends on Tuesday, Dec. 18, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his honor to the Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland 385 3rd Street SW Cleveland, Tn. 37311.
We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Sitzler family guestbook at www.fikefh.com.