Resolution of Respect, published in The Banner of Love, June 2003
Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church joins with family and friends in
mourning the passing of our dear Sister in Christ, Alma Jack [Baethge] Dittmar
who died on April 25, 2003 in Frederickburg, Texas, at the age of 96 years, 7
months, and 29 days. Funeral
services were held in the Chapel of Beckman Funeral Home with Elder Bruce
Crawford and Reverend Willfred Bigott officiating.
Interment followed in the Harper community cemetery.
Sister Alma was born August 27, 1906,
to Henry and Johanna [Nixon] Baethge, the 13th of their 14 children.
She married Edwin Dittmar on April 23, 1929, in Kerrville, Texas.
Surviving are her three daughters, and their families: Frances and Bill
Dendy, Elva and Delton Wilson, and Gayle Reed, all of Harper; seven
grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by one sister, Leona Wolfmueller, and one
sister-in-law, Ethel Baethge. She
was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin,
son-in-law, Ron Reed, and twelve brothers
and sisters.
She and her family ranched between
Kerrville and Harper, Texas. Here
her life was focused on being a good wife, helpmate, mother and homemaker.
She avidly devoted her energies to her three daughters and husband and to
her home. She loved gardening and
growing flowers, especially gladiolus. She
had an interest in antiques and inherited or acquired many beautiful pieces.
She loved her community and was active there also.
Sister Alma joined Squaw Creek
Primitive Baptist Church, September 15, 1957, upon promise of a letter from
Eldorado Primitive Baptist Church. She
was a faithful member and loved her Lord and her church, and she attended
services as long as she could, even when she had to come in a wheel chair.
Her daughters were attentive to her and brought her when she was able to
come. She never wavered
in her belief and in her latter years, when the frailties of the flesh
had taken their toll, she sat and sang the wonderful old songs.
As one approached her room in the nursing home, it was not uncommon
to hear that sweet voice singing "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that
saved a wretch like me ...' These words were
very near and dear to her.
God
blessed her with a revelation of truth in early life. She loved to read the Bible, as she grew older. On
one occasion when she had visitors in her room, she was asked what she knew.
Her reply was, 'I know that I love Jesus!"
She believed and defended the doctrine of grace as put forth in I Cor.
15:10, "But by the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace which was
bestowed upon me was not in vain: But
I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which
was with me."
Although, we know that Sister Alma
Dittmar is with our Lord and Master, we will miss her pleasant countenance and
sweet smile. We rejoice in her life
and in the treasures she left for us all, for her strength, and for her firm
belief that sustained her throughout her days.
Done
in conference by request of the Church on May 18, 2002.
Committee: Sister Lennah Hooper and Sister Edna Baethge.