Ida "Clothilde" Clark Blitch, 95, of Tifton passed away Thursday, February 7, 2002, at Beverly Health Care in Tifton. Her funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, 11, 2002, at Tifton's First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Willie Beasley, the Rev. Jay Roberson and the Rev. Sam Rogers officiating. Mrs. Blitch was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Charles Jackson, Bill Jackson, Edward Jackson, Derrek Blitch, Johnny Mack Clark and Paul Hebert served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were the officers and staff of Tifton's First Community Bank; members of the Order of the Eastern Star; members of the American Legion Auxiliary; members of the Pine Garden Club in Tifton; and members of the Christian Sunday School Class at Tifton's First United Methodist Church.
Born August 1, 1906, in Worth County, Mrs. Blitch was the daughter of the late Elias Edward Clark and Mary Anna Cottle Clark. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Piercel Bowen "P. B." Blitch, Sr.; five sisters; and four brothers. Before retiring, she was a teller at Tifton's First Community Nank for 30 years; and she was a 75-year member of Tifton's First United Methodist Church and the oldest living member at her death, where she was a member of the Chrisitan Sunday School Class; and where she served as the pianist. Also at her death, she was the eldest living descendant of Mary Eliza Dunham Cottle and Solomon Mills Cottle, Sr. of Ty Ty. She had been a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for 58 years; a charter member of the Pine Garden Club of Tifton; and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over 55 years. She will be fondly remembered for sharing her flowers and knowledge of their growing and blooming habits. She moved to Tifton in 1925 and lived her throughout her life.
Mrs. Blitch is survived by one son and daughter-in-law Piercel Bowen "Buddy", Jr. and Linda Blitch of Augusta; one daughter, Mary Nola McCrea of Tifton; seven grandchildren, Charles L. Jackson and James E. "Ed" Jackson, both of Peachtree City, William F. "Bill" Jackson of Cochran, Nola J. Gentry of Franklin, Tennessee, Grace J. Cesonis of Mons, Belgium and Derrek B. Blitch and Jenifer Blitch, both of August; five great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.