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Simple Funerals, Inc.

In Memory of

Otis D. Kitchen

1931 - 2021

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Sunday

August

Public Visitation

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Sunday, August 8, 2021

Chapel at Brethren Village

3001 Lititz Pike

Lititz, Pennsylvania, United States

Get Directions

Sunday

August

Memorial Service

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Sunday, August 8, 2021

Chapel at Brethren Village

3001 Lititz Pike

Lititz, Pennsylvania, United States

Get Directions

Saturday

August

Public Visitation

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren

777 South Mount Joy Street

Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, United States

Get Directions

Saturday

August

Memorial Service

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren

777 South Mount Joy Street

Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, United States

Get Directions

Mike Perfater posted a condolence

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Otis Kitchen was my drum teacher at Huff Land Elementary School in Roanoke Va. around 1956-59. He was a wonderful teacher and an even nicer person. He also was the church organist and choir director at 9th St. Church of the Brethren in Roanoke at about the same time, give or take a year on either end. My mother was the church secretary there and, as a result, I attended regularly. He was a man of so many talents. Years later he showed up at one of our William Fleming Class of '65 Reunions (perhaps in the late 90s?) It was a wonderful surprise, and he and I stayed in touch after that--and ultimately via Facebook. He may have attended more than one of these. He was always humble and always so glad to be there and so well received by our classmates Check my dates as I am really not sure of them. He was always so nice to my mom...and to me. Always. Love you man...

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Paul Steinweg posted a condolence

Sunday, August 8, 2021

I was a student of Otis 1978-82. He had such passion and sense of excellence that was contagious if not a bit scary at times. So much, that we coined a phrase when we saw him about to erupt. OTIS-Itis. What passion. I loved that man Then there was the time of Three Mile Island crisis. That day we were performing in Middletown of all places and the High School evacuated. We played anyway. Russian Christmas Music. Otis purposely wanted to play that song and then we left to go back to an empty campus. That’s passion!!!

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Richard Buckingham posted a condolence

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Dr Kitchen taught me music at Fleming H S in Roanoke VA in 1958-72 on clarinet, bass clarinet and bassoon. I enjoyed many band trips and concerts with him.i have continued to play music ever since. My condolences to family and friends.

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Carol Thibodeau posted a condolence

Sunday, August 1, 2021

I played string bass in the Lancaster Youth Symphony under Dr Kitchen’s direction. While I was not a great musician, that experience certainly influenced my musical knowledge and appreciation. In addition, I made life long friends. I have much to thank Dr Kitchen for.

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Jay Sheely uploaded photo(s)

Sunday, August 1, 2021

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I played saxophone in the E-town stage band from freshman through senior year 1967 - 1970. What a nice break from studying to get together and play music once a week. Every now and then Prof Kitchen would join us with a little boogie-woogie on the piano. The band played at HEMISFAIR in San Antonio TX in the fall of "68 and if I remember correctly, we were the only PA music group invited. Having read his obit, now I understand why. We cut two LP's and I'm pretty sure they both went platinum. Well maybe not. His reach in the music world went far beyond the college, and I am honored that I had the opportunity to play in one of his groups. The Elizabethtown College Stage Band name was pretty boring - better would have been "Otis Kitchen and the E-town Jays". Rest in peace Prof - yours was a life well-lived. Jay Sheely

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Ivory Davis Brock posted a symbolic gesture

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

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My dear friend Otis. We had great times on tour together. I was your associate conductor with the band and thanks for sharing with me tips on band conducting that I still carry to day. Musically, Ivory Brock

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Catherine Saperstein lit a candle

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

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I had the honor of taking classes with Prof. Kitchen at Elizabethtown College and remember him fondly all these years later. My deepest condolences to the family.

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Lisa Rogers posted a condolence

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Prof Kitchen was a light to so many of us who LIVED at Rider Hall at Etown so many years ago! For me, he was a mentor, role model and friend. He taught me more about making connections with students than he ever knew. My memories of trips with him and the music department will always live as some of my most cherished. I am saddened by his loss and extend my deepest condolences to his family. Heaven gained a spirited soul filled with love.

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Robert Spiers posted a condolence

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Otis has known me and followed my musical career for 64-years. Now, age 79, my wife and I are so thankful that we were able to visit him when years ago we spent a week in the state of PA. Otis taught me as a little 7th grade French horn player member of the Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra. This fall in October, I am to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Shenandoah University, the same as he received from his alma mater, Bridgewater College. In my acceptance speech I intend to mention my mentor, Otis. I will never forget him or what he did for my career as I followed in his footsteps on so many venues. I ended my 30-year music teaching career in 2000. My condolences to the entire family. -- Robert ("Bobby") J. Spiers, Jr.

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Kelly Jackson posted a condolence

Monday, July 26, 2021

Prof Kitchen was my music director during my years at Etown 1991-1995. Music has a tremendous way to bring people together and the music community is very small. During my time at Etown my dad played at several graduations under Prof Kitchen's direction. Fast forward years later, Prof Kitchen guest conducted a concert of the University of Maryland Community band, in which my father was a member. I had the privilege to reconnect with Prof Kitchen at that concert. My prayers are with his family at this time of loss. What an amazing life journey and the many lives he touched with the universal language of music.

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Milt Friedly posted a condolence

Monday, July 26, 2021

Maestro, a man of honor; friend and my unofficial faculty mentor at Elizabethtown College. Otis was a shining light on our campus - he is missed much by those he touched. His influence is forever written in the Book of Life!

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Mary Ann McDonald posted a condolence

Monday, July 26, 2021

I have many favorite memories of playing under Prof Kitchen during my time at Elizabethtown College from 1974- 1978: playing at Longwood Gardens at Christmas surrounded by poinsettias, playing Rhapsody in Blue with the pianist from the Philadelphia Symphony at the original Music Pier in Atlantic City and playing at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. He brought out the best in all of us and it was a pleasure and an honor to play under his conduction. My sincere condolences to the family. Thoughts and prayers are with you. Mary Ann Biddle McDonald

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myla73@aol.com Posted Jul 26, 2021 at 11:31 PM

Your Dad was a great band director. I played alto sax in E-town’s band from 1973-1977 and share the memories Mary Ann Biddle listed above. My son Craig is now a music teacher here in Florida, and while he was in high school, his band traveled to a Williamsburg VA music festival where Prof Kitchen was his judge! -Myla Easter Uppercue

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Charlene Metzler posted a condolence

Monday, July 26, 2021

I have wonderful memories of Otis as the organist at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Lancaster, PA. He had a fond connection to our family because he always said it was my mother, Ethel Morrison, who hired him to play at St. Paul's and he stayed for over 30 years. We would laugh a lot about that. (Ethel was head of the search committee when the church was looking for a new organist.) He played at the funerals of my mother, father and husband because of his love for us. Gary and Sharon, your father was incredibly talented, but he was always very humble about his accomplishments. He was a "gentle giant" in the music world and I am proud to be able to say I knew him! I kept in touch with him over the years through Christmas cards and encouragement notes and he graciously would call me to say "thank you." He made a CD of organ music while at the church and I just recently played it in my car on the way to visit family in Delaware. Otis will always be a part of my thoughts and I feel very blessed that he shared his musical abilities and his love for the Lord with our congregation and the whole world. May you, his children, feel the presence and comfort of God now and in the days to come. Blessings to you, Charlene Metzler

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Mary Wittemann posted a condolence

Monday, July 26, 2021

From my birth until he could no longer make the drive to St. Paul's, your father enriched our worship to God each Sunday. He was an extremely nurturing and thoughtful man. He played comforting music at my father's funeral when I was 14, played joyful music at our wedding and spirit filled music each Sunday during our services. Every time I bake peanut butter blossoms, I will fondly remember your dad. Incredibly talented, he was humble and kind with a soft laugh that punctuated his lovely sense of humor. May Jesus wrap you in His arms and bring you comfort. May you find peace knowing the beauty your dad brought to to world. Mary Wittemann

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Gary Kitchen Posted Jul 26, 2021 at 11:43 AM

Which just reminded me I haven't reached to anyone at St Paul's. Thank you for the thoughts now to look the phone number.

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Carol Kaltreider posted a symbolic gesture

Saturday, July 24, 2021

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Dear Sharon, Gary, and Mindy, You were our good neighbors at Elizabethtown. We were residents at Brethren Village with your Dad. Joel shared his love for music with him. Joel is singing in the Heavenly Choirs as Otis directs or may they are making sure the organ is in just the right place before they start. Our lives were blessed to have Otis as a friend. We were privileged to enjoy your Dad's events at Elizabethtown College and Brethren Village. He has left a very special legacy and he will be forever missed. May God grant you comfort and peace today and in the days to come. Love and prayers. Carol Kaltreider

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Ellen Faulkner Posted Jul 26, 2021 at 7:10 PM

I was very fortunate to be a student of Prof. Kitchen’s at Elizabethtown. He taught us to have true passion for the music. He was a Kind and caring man. I am very saddened to hear of his loss. Ellen (Judd) Faulkner ‘80

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The family of Otis D. Kitchen uploaded a photo

Friday, July 23, 2021

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