Meet our devoted staff

At Bitner Family Funeral Homes, we are extremely proud of our first-rate staff members. After all, these devoted professionals are the heart of our firm. Our caring, compassionate staff members are here to support and guide you and your family during your most difficult time of need.  

Meet our expert staff members:

Nathan A. Bitner, FD
Born in Harrisburg, Nathan A. Bitner is a graduate of Big Spring High School in Newville. After graduating from Harrisburg Area Community College, he went on to attend Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He also received the William J. Musmanno Memorial Award and the Mu Sigma Alpha Award.

In 1997, Nathan came to the Hetrick Funeral Home to complete his internship. During that time, Graham Hetrick offered Nathan a job as a staff funeral director, where he worked in all phases of the funeral home operations. Nathan later became the Supervisor. In 2003, Graham Hetrick gave Nathan an opportunity of a lifetime: he offered him the chance to buy into the family business. Nathan gladly accepted.

Today, Nathan is president of the funeral homes as well as a funeral director. He is a Pennsylvania Cemetery Cremation Funeral Association board member and the 2010 president of the Capital City Funeral Directors Association. He is also a member of Roberts Burns F&A.M. Lodge 464 and the Harrisburg Consistory.

Nathan and his wife Krista have one son, Braydan, and two daughters, Ashle and Gianna.

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A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native, Graham S. Hetrick has dedicated his life to serving this great community. After graduating from Susquehanna Township High School, Graham served in the US Army as a Provost Marshall Investigator. He then went on to graduate with honors from York College and attend Messiah College, where he earned his teacher certification.

In 1972, Graham decided to follow his father’s footsteps and join the family business. He graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1973, and started working at the funeral home. As a funeral director, he led the way in the funeral home’s development of after-care programs and pre-arrangement services.

Today, Graham continues his family’s tradition of serving local families. In addition to working as a funeral director, he also serves as the elected Dauphin County Coroner. He is a member of many community organizations, including the Susquehanna Township Lions Club, Colonial Park Rotary Club, the National Hospice Association, the International Police Association and the Pennsylvania Coroner’s Association.

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In 1997, Jodi M. Ward graduated from Conneaut Valley High School in Conneautville, Pennsylvania. She also attended the Crawford County Area Vocational School in Meadville from 1995 to 1997, where she received a degree in Marketing and Distributive Education. She also served as the Secretary of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) from 1995 to 1997.

In 2005, Jodi graduated with honors from the Business Institute of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Business Administration Associate’s Degree. The next year, she moved to Central Pennsylvania where she began her career in the funeral industry. She is a public notary and a member of the National Notary Association, Pennsylvania Notary Association, member of the Dauphin/Middle Paxton Home Association, Marysville VFW Post #882, Cameron County Vets Club. Jodi, her husband Daniel and her son Joseph are active in the local community. Jodi served as the Marysville Cub Scout Bear Den Leader in 2007 and as SASY team parent from 2008 to 2010. She was also the Duncannon Cub Scout Executive Committee Member Treasurer from 2009 to 2012 and a Committee member from 2012 to present.

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Ronald C.L. Smith has served the community for more than 40 years. He was born and raised in Duncannon and graduated from Susquenita High School. He earned a B.S. Degree in Biology from Juniata College and attended Eckels College of Mortuary Services, where he received the Stephen W. Tunnel Award. He has been a licensed funeral director since January 1965.

Ronald is a member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church and the Duncannon Lions Club where he received the Melvin James Award. He is also a member of Perry Lodge #458 F&AM Marysville, ICCFA, PCCFA, and Capital City Funeral Directors Association, and is on the Union Cemetery Association board of directors.

Ronald and his wife Kathryn have been married since 1963, and they have a daughter named Michelle. Although he is retired as the owner, Ronald is still licensed as a funeral director with the Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home.

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Born and raised in Harrisburg, Vaughn C. Miller attended The Harrisburg City Schools. After graduating from high school, he attended the Harrisburg Area College of Higher Education and Elizabethtown College. He then went on to earn a degree from McAllister Institute American Academy of Mortuary Science.

Vaughn joined the Jesse H. Geigle Funeral Home in 1969 and became co-owner of the funeral home in 1975. He is a member of Tree of Life Lutheran Church, as well as the county, state and national Funeral Directors Associations. He is also a member and past President of the Rotary Club of Colonial Park, and he served on the Dauphin County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board.

Vaughn was married to Dorothy Ann Wilson until her death in 2000. They have two grown sons, Brett W. Miller and Andrew D. Miller.

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Jason A. Switek took on his first job in the funeral industry when he was attending Northeast Catholic High School for Boys in Philadelphia. After high school, Jason graduated from the American Academy McAllister of Funeral Service in New York City and went on to attend the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, where he pursued his education as a coroner.  From 1999 until 2006, he served as Deputy Coroner for Bucks County. 

In 2009, Jason joined the Bitner Family Funeral Homes as a Funeral Director and Licensed Pennsylvania Pre-Need Insurance Agent. He is proud to serve local families with unsurpassed services and compassionate care. Today, Jason lives in Susquehanna Township and stays active in numerous community and fraternal organizations.

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Born and raised in Central Pennsylvania, Matthew C. Sullivan attended high school in the East Pennsboro Area School District. After graduating from high school, he continued his education at Harrisburg Area Community College, where he earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration.  Matthew then attended The Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he proudly served as Vice President of the Class of 2000 and graduated with  a degree in Mortuary Science.  For more than a decade, Matthew has offered superior funeral services to local families in their greatest time of need.  

Matthew lives in Enola, Pennsylvania with his wife Aimee and three children, Brittany, Matthew and Ella. In his free time, he enjoys coaching softball and baseball. He is also a board member for the East Pennsboro Parks and Recreation Department. 

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Melinda D. Sparks, FD

Melinda Sparks grew up in Dayton, Ohio and moved to Cincinnati where she graduated cum laude from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Sciences with a Bachelors of Mortuary Science in 2010.  As the youngest member of the Bitner Family Funeral Homes, Melinda brings a fresh perspective and edge as Funeral Director. 
    
Melinda is also a member of Rainbow Chapter #517 Order of the Eastern Star. When she’s not helping families celebrate their loved ones, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and nice quiet evenings at home with her husband.

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Graduating from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2010, Michael Sparks brings a passion for people to Bitner 'Family Funeral Homes. Interning alongside some of the best, he is being groomed to the Bitner standard of excellence for funeral directors. In both high school and college, Michael was mulit-talented and involved in everything from drama club to varsity football to membership in Alpha Tau Epsilon Fraternity, member of the Red Lion Masonic Lodge 649. Now, he uses his endless talents and people skills to help met families’ unique needs during the funeral planning process.

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