Mr. Hitzing was born on a ranch in South Dakota in 1914, and his family then moved to Ekalaka, Mont.

In 1926 the family moved to Florida and finally settled in Jacksonville.

He had to quit school in the 8th grade to help support his family. He started by delivering groceries and ended up buying the grocery store.

During WW II he served in the Army Air Corp. After the war he spent most of his work career in the auto parts business operating warehouses in Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Tallahassee and Reedsville, Ga.

In 1973 he bought the EWH Ranch just outside Alachua. He never retired, and until his death, he was active in the operation of the ranch.

He was married to the love of his life, Mabel Whitehead Hitzing, for almost 69 years, until her death in September 2009. They had two sons, Wade Hitzing, 70, and Bert Hitzing, 66.

Ellis was preceded in death by 10 of his brothers and sisters, Thelma Crump Wilson of New Kent, Va; Buford Hitzing; A. C. “Al” Hitzing; Michel “Shell” Hitzing; Theodore “Teddy” Hitzing and Lovel Hitzing of Fort Myers; Florence Allen and Dewey Hitzing of Jacksonville, Lavina Cox and Jesse Corley of Keystone Heights.  His sister, Mary Ann Soud, of Keystone Heights, survives him.

In addition to his two sons, Ellis also enjoyed sharing his life as OPA for five grandchildren, Julia Hartlieb of Fort Myers; Hays Hitzing and Christopher Davey of Columbus, Ohio; Michael Davey of Valdosta, Ga.; and Julie Johnston of Lakeland.  He was also OPA for 10 great grandchildren: Kinsey, Emmie and Abby Johnston; Lucy and Charlie Hartlieb; Hannah, Benjamin and Leo Davey; and Albert “Bertie” and Lyda Hitzing.

Ellis was a lifelong member of the Baptist church. For 40-plus years he and Mabel were members of the North Main Street Baptist Church in Jacksonville. While in Jacksonville he served for more than 25 years on the Board of the Baptist Children’s Home. When they moved to Alachua they joined the Santa Fe Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Ethel Hart of Alachua for years of loving care for both Mabel and Ellis.

Ellis will be sorely missed. He was an extraordinary man who led a life of hard work and accomplishment.

Funeral services were conducted at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 22 at Santa Fe Baptist Church, 7505 NW County Rd. 236, Alachua, Fla.  Visitation was Friday, Oct. 21, 5-7 p.m. at Evans-Carter Funeral Home, 220 N. Main, High Springs, Fla.  Interment was Saturday, Oct. 22, at Evergreen Cemetery, Jacksonville, Fla.

He was a construction superintendent for Chicago Bridge & Iron and a Ft. White resident.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Barker, in May 2010.

He is survived by his son, Jimmy Barker of Callahan, Fla.; daughters, Helen Louise Shows of Windermere, Fla., and Linda Janet Knotts of Callahan, Fla.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 1 p.m. at Evans-Carter Chapel.

Arrangements are under the care of Evans-Carter Funeral Home, High Springs, Fla.

Frances Ruth Redwine, 82, went home on October 22, 2011 at Haven Hospice Roberts Care Center, Palatka, Fla.

She was born in Harvey Hollow, W. Va. on December 14, 1928, daughter of Elmer J. Whitney and Faye L. Smith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace L. Redwine.

She was a member of Impact Family Church, High Springs.

She is survived by her son, Mark (Cathy) Redwine; daughter, Sharon Smith; granddaughters, Lisa (Amy Deem) Redwine and Laura (Paul) Lyons  and Elizabeth Redwine; great granddaughter, Kristi (Doug) Mercer; great-grandson, Dustin Lyons, and great-great grandson, Hayden Booth; and sister, Jeanne DeLieto.

Visitation was Tuesday, October 25, 2011 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. followed by a funeral service at noon at the Impact Family Church, 16710 N W US Highway 441, High Springs, Fla., with Pastor Edwin Anderson officiating, interment in Newnansville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Haven Hospice in her name.

Arrangements under the care of Evans-Carter Funeral Home, High Springs, Fla.

Fay King Aldrich, 78, of Newberry, died Sunday, October 16, 2011 in Gainesville at E.T. York Hospice Care Center.

Mrs. Aldrich was born in Walhalla, ND, lived most of her life in New York, and has been in the Newberry area for almost 10 years. She was a timekeeper at Eastman Kodak Company.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Dean Aldrich, and by a grandson, Ryan Strong. She is survived by children Debra Ozment of Newberry, Bobby Ozment (Renee) of Ocala, David Ozment (Teresa) of Trenton, and Wanda Ozment of Gainesville; step-children Patricia Ann Strong of Piffard, NY, and Cliff Aldrich of Greece, NY; mother-in-law Helen Aldrich; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at the Milam Funeral Home Chapel in Newberry, Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 1:30-2:30 p.m., with the service beginning at 2:30. Arrangements are under the direction of Milam Funeral and Cremation Services, 22405 W. Newberry RD, Newberry, Fla.