He graduated from Pulaski High School in upstate New York in 1953, and spent 1 semester at Purdue University before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1954. He spent 12 years in the Air Force as a Bomb Navigation Technician. He was Honorably Discharged in May 1966 and immediately began his career at IBM. He met his wife Colleen while he was stationed at Lowry AFB, and they were married in January 1965. They moved permanently to Denver in 1966, where they were surrounded by friends and family. Walt was known as a “Jack of All Trades”, doing everything from building furniture, finishing basements, making stained glass projects, and tons of various house and car projects. He was always ready to help anyone who needed help with any kind of task. One of his favorite pastimes was picking the guitar or the banjo, and singing old country songs, whether it be at family gatherings, or at home in the living room.
Walt passed away in the comfort of his own home on Friday April 6. He was preceded in death by his parents Don and Thelma Hitchcock, his step-son William Ketchem, and 2 granddaughters, Paula and Julie Ketchem. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Colleen, daughter Janice Oetken (Jay), grandsons William Ketchem (Jeraine) and Marc Ketchem (Nicole), grand-daughters Amanda Baccarella (Anthony) and Katy Frazier, great-grandsons Cameron Ketchem and Dominic Baccarella, and great-granddaughter Julia Ketchem, brothers Sidney Hitchcock, Donald Hitchcock, and Gary Hitchcock (Jean), and numerous nieces and nephews.
He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.
A Celebration of Life Service with Reception immediately following will be held at Olinger Highland Mortuary on Saturday April 21st at 1:30, 10201 North Grant Street, Thornton Colorado.
Official military service at Fort Logan National Cemetery will follow later this summer.
Fond memories of Walter and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Hitchcock family.
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