Herbert Ralph Hitchner

Herbert Ralph (“Hitch”) Hitchner died peacefully at his home in Sandy Hook on Dec. 8, 2005. He was 92 years old.

Hitch was born on Sept. 30, 1913 in Daretown, N.J., one of five siblings. The family lived on a farm near the Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey, in the days when “horsepower” meant exactly that.

Hitch attended college at Rutgers University, where he majored in agriculture. He graduated in 1935 with honors, and taught high school in Millville, N.J. for two years before pursuing graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin.

In 1941 Hitch went to Chicago to work for the Milk Market Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he worked for 32 years.

In 1942 Hitch married Helen Vance, his wife of 56 years. They settled in Glen Ellyn, Illinois where they raised their three children.

When he retired, Helen and he moved to live on Lake Norfolk near Mt. Home, Ark. Later they relocated to Virginia Beach, Va., to be closer to their daughter Diane.

As they aged Helen and Hitch moved to Brandermill Woods, a retirement community in Virginia.

After Helen died at the age of 81 in 1999, Hitch moved next door to the McAfees in Clinton. He became a loyal participant at daytime bingo games at the local senior center, where he was bestowed the nickname “Hitchiro.”

Hitch was loved and admired by those who knew him for his kindness, generosity, intelligence, compassion and good humor.

Hitch is survived by his sisters Florence Garrison of Elmer, N.J. and Eva Wilkinson of Kitty Hawk, N.C.; his brother Steve Hitchner of Salisbury, Md.; his sons Harry Hitchner and wife Debra Pearson of Luxemburg, Wisc., Vance Hitchner and wife Catherine Candee of Berkeley, Calif., daughter Diane McAfee and husband Bill McAfee of Clinton; and six grandchildren, Dakota Hitchner, Tom Hitchner, Zoe Hitchner, Arly Cassidy, Pat McAfee and Shannon McAfee.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be sent to Home Health Care & Hospice of Whidbey General Hospital, 101 North Main St., Coupeville, WA 98239 or Senior Services of Island County, 14594 SR 525, Langley, WA 98260.