FITCH, Oral James, 1920-2009

FITCH, KLEINHAN, REIS, SIMON-GARCIA, CORLEY

Posted By: Betty Hootman (email)
Date: 2/16/2012 at 21:00:18

Burlington (IA) Hawk Eye
Published online: 30 May 2009

Jimmy Fitch

Oral James "Jimmy" Fitch, 88, of Pico Rivera, Calif., formerly of rural Rome, died Friday, May 22, 2009, at Presbyterian Hospital in Whittier, Calif.

Born June 13, 1920, in the White Oak area, rural Rome, he was the son of Frank McKinley and Clarice Kleinhan Fitch. On March 7, 1945, he married Mary Constance "Connie" Reis in Oakland, Calif.

Mr. Fitch had worked on the family farm and as a hired hand for other area farmers. He later settled in California and worked for the Merchants Calculating Machine Co. He also was employed by Chrysler Motors for 20 years. He first worked on the assembly line at the plant in San Leandro, Calif. Following its closing, he transferred to the Chrysler Plant in Los Angeles, Calif., and later went to the St. Louis Chrysler Plant in Fenton, Mo. He retired on June 30, 1980, and returned to California.

He attended White Oak Country School and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1937. He was called to serve his country during World War II. He enlisted in the Navy in 1939, serving in the laundry aboard the USS Wyoming. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

He was a member of St. Marian Catholic Church. He spent many hours volunteering for the youth of Pico Rivera, primarily in the field of electronics and speakers for their playing fields and auditoriums. He received the honor made by a proclamation by the mayor of Pico Rivera for his community service.

Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Donna Louise Simon-Garcia, both of Pico Rivera; one sister, DeLoris Corley of Atlanta, Ga.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, one daughter and two sisters.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Kimzey Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant.

The funeral for Mr. Fitch will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home in Mount Pleasant, with the Rev. Joseph Phung officiating. Burial will be in White Oak Cemetery in rural Rome.