1944–2022
MATADOR—Donald Joseph Wittler, 78, of Matador, Texas, passed away peacefully at home on December 3, 2022, surrounded by family, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. A memorial service was held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 5 at the First United Methodist Church of Matador, Texas. A community meal was provided by the church after the service, with everyone invited. A private family burial will be held at a later date.
Don was born June 29, 1944 in Fairbury, Illinois. He was Yankee by birth, Texan by choice. He moved to Texas around 1975 and stayed there till his death. He was a man of many professions, from barber to butcher to rancher to restauranteur. He owned and operated several restaurants with his wife, Lou, including RS Cafe in Roaring Springs, Dixie Dog in Floydada and Main Street Cafe in Matador. He enjoyed collecting antiques, collecting cowboy memorabilia, tinkering in his workshop, and watching TV Westerns with his dogs Baby and Shorty.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Josephine (Endres) Wittler of Chatsworth, Ill., his son, Donnie Wittler, Jr., his younger brother, Mark Wittler, his brothers-in-law Darrell Pence and JC Vaughan, and his sister-in-law Florine Garcia.
He is survived by his best friend and wife, Lou Wittler; daughters Danielle Wittler of Lexington, Ky., and Dana (Gary) Logsdon of Lexington, Ky.; stepsons Tommy Cooper of Matador, Texas, and Tim Cooper of Atlanta, Ga.; sisters Jane Pence of Burleson, Texas, and Cheryl Wittler of Wheaton, Ill.; sister-in-law Joni Wittler of Mahomet, Ill.; grandsons Avery and Chuck Logsdon of Lexington, Ky., and many nieces and nephews, and “cousins of cousins.”
The family would like to acknowledge all the friends who reached out with thoughts and prayers to checked in on Don, and to those who helped with providing care and rides to and from Lubbock, specifically Sarah, Daphne and Sam from the Motely County Clinic; Rusty Etheredge; Bobby Whitaker and Bunni Odell.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Don may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Matador, the Motley County Senior Citizens Center, or the Roaring Springs Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made at www.moorerose.com.