Binnie Bittel Kelly

Published 12:23 pm Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Binnie Bittel Kelly fell asleep in Jesus on the Lord’s Day, May 25, 2025, at age 84. 

Binnie Bittel was born to Clarence and Roberta Park Bittel in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 3, 1941. After graduating from Rocky River High School and attending college for a time, Binnie worked in a bank. Ther, she would meet her future husband Gilbert Kelly, to whom she was wed on June 2, 1973. Binnie and Gil enjoyed 42 wonderful years together working, traveling, entertaining. They moved to Lake Lure from their Rocky River home about 2006. 

Binnie was baptized into the name of God the Father, + Son and Holy Spirit in 1972 at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Rocky River, Ohio, and thereby was made a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven and a member of The Evangelical Lutheran Church. She cherished her birth from above and her life in the forgiveness of sins through the merits of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death on the cross for her and all the world. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church (LCMS), Tryon, NC, until she was disabled by a stroke following major surgery in 2015. She and Gil were then both residents of White Oak Nursing Home, Tryon, where they celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary on June 2, 2015, after which Gil passed away suddenly the next day. Binnie was grateful for the wonderful care she received over the next decade from the nurses and staff of Benson Hall. While unable to attend services she received the Sacrament of Christ’s true body and blood regularly, hearing His Word and confessing His holy name, proclaiming publicly Christ’s death until He comes. 

Binnie Bittel Kelly is survived by her brother Robert Bittel of California, a niece and great-niece there, as well as by her loving step-son, William (Diane) Kelly of Biloxi, Mississippi and grand-children Amanda Trochesset and Todd Kelly. She was preceded in death by her husband Gilbert Frank Kelly. 

Binnie’s final weeks were spent at Carolina Reserve, Hendersonville, NC, where she received wonderful care until her risen Lord Jesus came to take her soul to Paradise on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Her body will be laid to rest in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, to await the resurrection of all flesh at Christ’s return, with that of her husband in Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain on Monday, June 9, 2025, after the 11:00 am funeral service at McFarland Funeral Chapel that morning. 

Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, 3353 U.S. 176, Tryon, NC  28782.

An online guest register is available at mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel 

Tryon