Rev. David Frederick Bittle

The son of Thomas Bittle and Mary Baer and husband of Louisa C. Krauth, David Frederick Bittle and fellow Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg graduate, Christopher C. Baughman, started a school in Augusta County, Virginia in 1842. In 1845 the school was incorporated as Virginia Collegiate Institute. In 1847 the school moved to Salem, Roanoke County, Virginia, and in 1853 the name of the institute was changed to Roanoke College. Rev. David F. Bittle was the first president of Roanoke College. He was president for twenty-three years.

Bittle and Baughmann were United Synod Lutheran pastors who started Roanoke College as a Lutheran boy's preparatory school.