Edward Fitton

He was surrounded by his wife Melba, family, and wonderful caregivers. Both of his children and their spouses had been able to be with him near his leaving date, and he was able to tell us with words how much he loved us before he left.

Ed is survived by his wife Melba. They were married June 28th 1945. They were married 69 years, 362 days.

He is also survived by his two children, and their families;

Lon and Liz Fitton of Mt. Shasta, CA, along with their sons, Chris and Ian Fitton. Chris and Alison Fitton along with granddaughter, Alexis (Lexi), live in Bend, OR. Ian and Meadow Fitton along with grandson, Costa, live in Dunsmuir, CA.

Alice and Don Dyk, of Quincy, WA, along with their children, Nate and Erin. Nate Dyk and his wife, Tracy, along with grandchildren, Abby, Olivia, and Colby, live in Sandpoint, ID. Erin Bender and her husband, Josh, along with granddaughters, Quincy and Reagan, live in Ellensburg.

There were also two very special members of their family: Monda Alexander of Jackson TN, who lived with them for many years during her career as a teacher in the Portland Area. She preceded Ed in death.

Don Sweet of Salem, OR, who lived with them through his late high school years. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Salem, OR.

Ed is also survived by his brother- and sister-in-law, Don and Ginny Fitton, and their son, John. He was preceded in death by Don and Ginny’s daughter, Kris Lynn, all of Palo Alto, CA.

Ed's sister-in-law, Ida Fitton, and her children, David Fitton, Clifford Fitton, Steven Fitton, of Porterville, CA, area and Mary Hunwardson, of Merced, CA, also survive him.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Roland and Georgia Fitton of Lindsay, CA, and later Redwood City, CA, and his youngest brother, Clifford Fitton of Porterville, CA.

Born January 27th 1921, to Georgia (Watkins) Fitton and Roland Fitton, in Lindsay, CA, Ed grew up on his parents’ and grandparents’ orange grove just out of town. His father Roland, a RAF World War I Pilot, worked for Orange Belt Supply in Lindsay and surrounding farm area.

He graduated from Lindsay High school in 1939. For that summer after graduation, he worked in a backcountry resort called Mineral King. He met Melba Hunt there where she was working as a helper for the cook. The resort was at the site of a gold and silver rush village from the 1800’s that had become a cool haven for people seeking relief from the heat of the San Joaquin Valley below. It was a starting point for mule and horse pack trains that took fishermen and wanderers deep into the high country of the Sierra Nevada, near Mt. Whitney. When that summer job was over, he went to work for a short time for an olive company in Lindsay.

After high school, Ed who had a lifelong love of engines, was accepted into Boeing School of Aeronautics located in Alameda, CA. When his class graduated, United Airlines hired the entire class. Within the first few months of joining United Air Lines he, along with most men of his age, enlisted in the military. World War 2 was beginning.

Ed joined the United States Air Corps and was sent to basic training in Florida. He received his A&E (airframe and engine) rating in Florida. He served in several bases in the United States, one of them being Wendover, NV. He served on various other bases, states side, and was eventually sent to March Field Air Base in Riverside. He was part of a test crew as the flight engineer. While stationed at March Field, he and Melba were married on June 28th 1945, in Exeter, CA, Melba's hometown, two miles from Lindsay, Ed’s hometown.

When the war was over in 1945, Ed was separated out of the Air Corps. Melba remembers the celebration in the streets that day. He was "separated out "of the Air Corps when the war was over in 1945.

Ed was able to return to work for United Airlines in southern San Francisco after his service in the Air Corps. He worked in their main overhaul base as an inspector.

The first home Ed and Melba bought was in Redwood City, CA. It was a two bedroom one bath 800 square foot house in a brand new subdivision. The price of $7,000 was paid with monthly payments of $25.

After living in Redwood City, for many years, Ed took a job change within United Airlines and moved to Portland, OR. His job there was on the Auto Dock, working on any vehicle or motor for the ground operation of United Airlines. He remained at work for United Airlines until his retirement at the age of 62. After retirement, they moved to Ellensburg where their son, Lon, built them a home. It was a wonderful home and had an amazing view of Mount Stewart. They enjoyed putting in a garden and developing the yard there and also enjoyed getting involved at church. Ed would also help out with mechanical work on their son-in-law, Don's, family farm on Thorp Highway.

Ed and Melba moved to the "Rosewood Community" 8 years ago where they have made many wonderful friends. Thank you to the lovely neighbors who are Ed and Melba's friends. Thank you for standing by them in their difficult days and literally standing in the street as he was taken away. It was a beautiful goodbye for him.

We, the family, were truly blessed to have the emergency response team that came to us that night. It was like a band of angels sent to honor a man we all loved. Thank you, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Team, Police and Coroner. You all comforted us and made his passing easier.

We, Ed's family, will forever be indebted to Shannon McDaniel, and her Dad, Ken Beaty, for ushering us through this last year and 9 months. They took care of Dad with such tenderness and dignity and in the process blessed Melba and our whole family. And to the members of Ed and Melba’s church family who are so dear to them, thank you for all your love and support.

Ed was a very quiet man, a man of few words some times, but he loved a good joke. He was a very humble man and would be embarrassed by all of this attention. He grasped the love of God and accepted God’s love and forgiveness to him. He was a man that hungered after God and now he is satisfied. We all loved him and will never forget him.

There will be a gathering to remember Ed on Thursday, July 2nd at 7 p.m. at the "Rosewood Club House", 1101 E. Umptanum Road, Ellensburg, Washington 98926. If you wish to make a donation in place of flowers, Melba suggests the Ellensburg Hospice. Condolences for the family can be left at www.steward-williams.com.