Alan “Wheaty” Kitchen, 61 of Center Valley passed away peacefully Thursday evening March 24th, at home surrounded by his wife and three sons. He was the beloved husband of Mary Ellen “Mel” (Frost) Kitchen and together they shared 37 wonderful years of marriage.

Alan was born September 12, 1960 at Easton Hospital to the late Richard and Barbara (Schenk) Kitchen. He was raised in Bethlehem and graduated from Freedom High School in 1978 and attended the University of Scranton where he met his sweet-heart Mel.

Alan’s career was in the IT field and he was currently working for FIDx in Berwyn, PA as Director of IT.
Wheaty was a quiet man with many passions the greatest of which was music. He was a classically trained percussionist and an alum of the Freedom HS Patriot Band and the Allentown Band and Symphony. Nothing could keep him from his weekly practice and gigs with his buddies of the past 25 years playing drums with the Electric Cheesemelt and all of its various offshoots. He LOVED to golf with his sons and buddies and always hit the 19th hole for a cold Yuengling. He and his buddy Butch were steady fans of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey team as well. He was a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan thanks to Fran Tarkenton.

More than anything else Alan was a devoted and respected family man. He is survived by his wife Mary Ellen, sons Patrick of Allentown, Ryan and his favorite daughter-in-law Skye and grandson Adrian of Allentown, Sean of Center Valley and sister Patricia Artz and husband Phil of Endicott, New York. He is remembered and loved by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Services: Family and Friends are invited to his viewing on Saturday, April 2, 2022 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm followed by a funeral service at 5:00pm at JAMES FUNERAL HOME, 527 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. There will be a celebration of life at a later date. We ask that you have a beer in his honor and live each day with kindness and love.

Memorial contributions can be made in Alan’s honor to the Allentown Band Endowment for youth music education. https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/create-fund/existing-funds/allentown-band-endowment-fund

Service will be Live-Streamed: To watch the services, please click on the Photos and Videos Tab from the menu and then click on Webcasting. The Service will go live at 4:55 P.M.