Tony Bitela

Tony Bitela 49, of Amarillo died Monday February 18, 2013 in Oklahoma City. Services will be at 10:00 AM Friday at Trinity Fellowship Church with John Love, Sr. Pastor officiating. Interment will be at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St. Amarillo, Texas. Tony was born on February 24, 1963 in Amarillo. He worked for Russell Buick and Hertz for several years before opening Tonys Paint and Body in 1991. He was a member of Trinity Fellowship Church. Tony loved the outdoors. He enjoyed, fishing, hunting and riding his Harley. He married Cynthia Cyndie Esparza on November 30, 1991. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his father, Martin Bitela in 1980 and an infant daughter, Shelby Eleez Bitela in 1991. Tony was instrumental in helping others by being the first person in Amarillo to receive an L-VAD transplant, which paved the way for other heart patients to have a better quality of life. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Anthony Bitela and Tyler Bitela both of Amarillo; his mother, Loretta Vigil of Amarillo; 3 brothers, Willie Ray Huggins of Iuka, MS, Richard Bitela of Lubbock and Victor Duran of Amarillo; 3 sisters, Stephanie Gutierrez, Loretta Marie Duran and Blanca Guzman, all of Amarillo; 2 granddaughters, Shelby Mylah Bitela and Myah Sarene Bitela both of Amarillo.