HITT, ROBERT L.

Robert Hitt of Salem, Oregon passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 21, 2003 at the age of 83. He was born February 21, 1920 in Seattle, WA to Rosa and Lester Hitt, graduated from Aberdeen High School, and attended Stanford University on a track scholarship. He proudly served as a 2nd Lt. in the Marine Corps’ 1st Raider Battalion and the OSS, a forerunner of the CIA during WWII. He married Gladys Pryde of Hoquiam, WA in 1944 and had three children, Robert J. Hitt, Wendy Warrington and Dana Nystrom. He fulfilled a lifelong desire to teach by graduating from Seattle Pacific University at the age of 45 and teaching until his retirement at the age of 71. His passion was always to challenge students to their highest level of thinking and working even when they didn’t recognize their own potential. One of his greatest pleasures was spending time with his children skiing, hiking and debating issues. He was an avid reader all his life and was known for his humor, wit, optimism and thankful heart regarding his wonderful life. His family finds comfort, thankfulness and peace in his decision to give his heart to Jesus just three weeks before his death. He spoke of the peace he had always sought, but never found until this time. He married Josephine Wheeler in 1990 and these years were among the happiest of his life. He will be dearly missed.