Steamboat Pilot & Today

Longtime Steamboat Springs resident Gilbert L. "Gil" Hitchens died June 12, 2006. He was 89.

Gil was born March 18, 1917, in Steamboat Springs to Stanley Leroy Hitchens and Grace Ella Turner Hitchens.

He received his education from Steamboat Springs schools.

He married Bethel Lee McKinney on May 1, 1940, in Meeker.

He was a rancher and farmer and owned a ranch in Twentymile Park southwest of Steamboat Springs. He sold the ranch in 1958, and he and his family moved to Fort Collins.

He worked as an officer for the Colorado State University's campus police department from 1958 to 1964. He then worked for the university's housing department as a custodial supervisor and retired from that position in 1983. He also owned a Laundromat in Fort Collins for 14 years.

He was a charter member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon and helping with projects at the church during its construction.

He loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. He also raised a garden and flowers. He enjoyed his grandchildren and family. He was an avid Denver Broncos fan.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a sister; his stepmother; and a son, Richard Hitchens in 1962.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bethel; a son, Douglas Hitchens and his wife, Sheryl, of Windsor; a brother, Lyle Hitchens of Arvada; a grandson, Douglas Jr. of Greeley; a granddaughter, Melissa Berger and her husband, Mike, of Houston; a grandson, Dawson of Windsor; great-grandchildren, Douglas III and Mason of Greeley, Bethany and Lee of Fort Collins, Athena and Tristan Berger of Houston, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Interment followed at Resthaven Memory Gardens.