W. C. "Bill" Hitchens 1880 - 1939

HITCHENS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/8/2018 at 14:57:44

The Ute Independent
12 May 1939

W. C. Hitchens, 59, Meets Death Suddenly Monday Morning
Heart Attack Takes Pioneer Hardware Man While He Slumbered

Unbelievable, but true, was the report spread about town early Monday morning that W. C. “Bill” Hitchens was dead. He passed away about five o’clock that morning while reposing in slumber.

Chris Nelson, who spent the night with him in his rooms over the hardware store, was aroused near the hour of five o’clock Monday morning by a choking sound coming from Mr. Hitchens. He went to him immediately and after raising him up in bed he went to the telephone and called a physician. But death came before medical aid arrived.

“Bill” Hitchens was a pioneer of Ute. He attended and graduated from our local high school. After his father’s death he took over the management of the Hitchens Hardware business which he successfully continued until his death. He was identified with many local business and social activities. During the life of its organization he was a member of the home-town band. For many years in succession he was town clerk and served several terms as town mayor. He was manager of the local telephone company and vice-president of the Ute State Bank at the time of his death.

W. C. Hitchens, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Hitchens, was born December 28, 1880, and died May 8, 1939, aged 58 years, 4 months and 10 days.

He is survived by five sisters, Mrs. Alice Phillippi, Basin, Wyoming, Mrs. Pearl Riley, Hay Springs, Nebraska, Mrs. Etta Shriner, O’Neill, Nebraska, Mrs. Anna Sankey and Mrs. Lillian Marn, Ute.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Christian Church. All business houses in Ute will be closed from 1:30 to 3:00 o’clock in honor of the deceased.