Dr. William Reynolds Bitler passed away on April 18, 2007.
 
Dr. Bitler earned his Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, and Ph.D. in Physics from the Carnegie Institute of Technology and began his teaching career at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Metallurgy. He came to Penn State in 1962, as an Associate Professor, was promoted to Professor in 1970, and achieved Emeritus status in 1995.
 
His interests were broad, ranging from physical metallurgy to magnetic materials and loved to teach and be taught. Graduate and undergraduate education were both important to him, and he was actively involved in the Educational Affairs and Scholarship Committees of the American Electroplating and Surface Finishing Society. Dr. Bitler was the advisor of numerous Ph.D. and M.S. graduates in metallurgy and helped administer the local chapter of the American Society for Metals (now known as ASM International). His interest in being an educator stemmed from his experience teaching radar in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and continued throughout his life. He continued to teach on an ad hoc basis for several years after retirement. His interest in learning was life long and this can be noted by his most recent book purchases which included physics and applied mathematics texts.
 
Dr. Bitler was a Fulbright Scholar in the Solid State Physics Group of the University of Oslo's Institute of Physics in Oslo, Norway, during the 1985-1986 academic year and was an elected ASM International Fellow. He was also a member of the American Physical Society and the Metallurgical Society (AIME).
 
He was an avid skier and proud member of the 70-plus ski club, handball player, and hunter. He was a fanatical Nittany Lion sports fan, holding football season tickets for more than 40 years. He loved the New York Yankees, the New York Giants, and debating politics. 
 
Memorials can be made in Dr. Bitler's name to the Robert W. Lindsay Memorial Scholarship at Penn State which benefits students who excel in metallurgy.
 

Robert W. Lindsay Memorial Scholarship
c/o William Bitler Memorial
Department of Material Science and Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University
121 Steidle Building
University Park, PA 16802