John Edward "Jack" Stitt

John Edward “Jack” Stitt, 86, passed away unexpectedly and went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. He will be dearly missed by his family, many friends, and countless people whose lives he touched in his quiet, loving way. He carried the love of Jesus everywhere he went and shared kindness, compassion, and encouragement with everyone in his path. Many have described him as the most Godly or Christ-like man they have ever known. No words are adequate to describe his humble greatness.

Jack was born November 26, 1938, in Clarksville, TN to Joe and Elizabeth Stitt. He married his high school sweetheart, Linda Siske Stitt on June 11, 1960. Together they began a journey of faith and love that still serves as an exemplary model of long-term commitment and a God-centered marriage. Jack was an incredible and loving (and patient!) father to his son and daughter, who both agree a better father has never lived on this planet, and his faithful patriarchal love overflowed to his nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as well.

By education and vocation, Jack was an electrical engineer, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Duke University. Jack had a distinguished 37 year career at Western Electric (later AT&T and Lucent Technologies) working on a number of projects, most notably spending many years on a national defense project that developed missile guidance equations. He also helped lead the Bible Study Club in his workplace at Western Electric for many years.

Though not a minister by vocation, Jack devoted his life to ministering to others and bringing glory to God. He and his wife Linda were a true ministry team, starting and ending each day with prayer together, praying for and with countless people in need. In fact, if you knew them, they probably prayed for you, whether you knew it or not! They visited, encouraged, and prayed with myriads of people in hospitals and health care facilities and in their homes or wherever people were in need. Jack would often bump into people in random places, and if he sensed a need, he would say “Could we pray with you about that right now?” And he would lead them in prayer about whatever the concern was.

As Jesus taught, Jack did not seek to be served, but to serve others, even to the point of great personal sacrifice. He served others with sincere devotion his entire life, illustrated most poignantly in his latter years, as he sacrificially devoted the last decade of his life to caring for his beloved partner and wife as she progressed into the recesses of advanced dementia, always serving her with such tenderness and patient love and without a single complaint, all while continuing to pray for and reach out to others in their times of need.

As a devoted Christ follower, Jack was always active in a local church, most recently as a member of St. Mark’s Community Church for many years, where he helped develop the prayer ministry many years ago and was still active on the prayer team at the time of his death. In his earliest adult years, he and Linda and their children were active members at Hocutt Memorial Baptist Church, where Jack served in various roles such as deacon, Sunday school teacher, and Boy Scout leader. Jack later led his family to enter into the wonderful fellowship of Burlington Assembly of God for many years, and it was there that Jack came into contact with the Christian organization to which he would devote his most energy and dedication: Greater Piedmont Teen Challenge, where in 2022 he was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation for serving on the Board of Directors for 41 faithful years.

Jack loved Christian music. He sang in various church choirs for many years, as well as in the Choral Club at work. He and Linda encouraged their children to develop their God-given musical gifts and use them for God’s glory and the edification of His people, and as a result his son and daughter are both heavily involved in Christian music ministry in their local churches even to this day.

Jack also took great joy in maintaining a veritable orchard in his backyard, where he tended his many fruit trees, providing peaches, apples, and pears to grateful customers for miles around. One customer and close friend referred to Jack as one of this world's finest gentlemen and lamented that she will miss his summer peaches and his fall apples.

And now, by God’s grace through the saving work of Jesus on the cross, Jack has the privilege of standing before the Lord and hearing those welcome words, "Well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:23)

Jack is survived by his best friend and wife of 64 years, Linda Siske Stitt; his children John Stitt, Jr. (Terry), and Laurie Stitt Key (Bob); grandchildren Brittney Key, Courtney Key Kay (Robert), Winston Chou (Yael), and Colin Chou (Lauren); great grandchildren Cole Kay, Charlee Beth “Poppy” Kay, and Emily Chou; nieces Carolyn Boyer Bunger (Paul), LuEllyn Boyer Wilcox (Jim), and Susan Siske Hill (Mark); nephews Dave Stitt (Deb) and Edward Siske (Kay); niece-in-law LeAnne Beaty Boyer (Waller); and numerous great nieces and great nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Joe G. Stitt, Jr.; and nephews Waller Boyer and William Siske.

The family will receive friends at Lowe Funeral Home Wednesday, December 11, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The service to remember Jack and celebrate his life will be held at the St. Mark’s Community Church chapel on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM, officiated by the Reverends Bob Disher and Pete Stearns. Jack will be laid to rest at Alamance Memorial Park following the service, and military honors will be provided at the cemetery to commemorate the years Jack served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Greater Piedmont Teen Challenge at P.O. Box 77914, Greensboro, NC 27417 or www.gpteenchallenge.com, or to St. Mark’s Community Church at 1230 St. Mark’s Church Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or www.smc.church. You may post condolences online at www.lowefuneralhome.com.