Philip Augustine Fitter

Philip Augustine Fitter, 98, passed away Monday, March 12, 2018 in Bedford, Texas. Graveside services will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 31, 2018 at the Hess Cemetery with Deacon Eulis Mobley officiating. Inurnment is under the direction of the Kincannon Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Phil was born July 8, 1919 to John and Lola Fitter in Altus, Oklahoma. He grew up the second of eight siblings, four brothers and three sisters. He helped work the family farm as a youth. He showed an early interest in flying by completing the Civilian Pilot Training Program at Altus Junior College. He joined the Army Air Corps to be a pilot in 1941. Phil became an instructor pilot, teaching new pilots in the BT-13 for the remainder of the war. During this time he met and married his beautiful wife Kathleen McKinnon. He went on inactive duty to finish college, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in geology from the University of Oklahoma. After college he was offered a regular commission and went back on active duty. During the years before he retired he served and continued to fly in Alaska, Europe, the US from Massachusetts to California and scouted sites for new air fields in Vietnam. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1968. After retirement Phil stayed very busy. He started by building his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He and Kathleen planned and constructed a beautiful Santa Fe style adobe home. He helped start a volunteer fire department and was the chief for several years. He had a small vineyard and made prize winning wine. He and Kathleen worked side by side during all these endeavors and took many breaks to travel throughout the US, Canada, and Alaska. After Kathleen's death in 2001, Phil moved to Texas to be near three of his brothers and his daughter and her family, where he lived for the next sixteen years. He had endless love for family, hosting family reunions in Oklahoma and at the family farm for many years. He was generous, proud and patriotic and was admired by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Phil is survived by his siblings; Norma and Wayne Bokorney, Pat and Virginia Fitter; children, James and Ginny Fitter, Mary and Herman Cox and John Fitter; grandchildren: John Fitter, Susan and Trey Harris, Kathy and Bill Dolny, Alicia and Patrick Favila, Connie and Chaye Massey, Tammy and Matt Butler, Carolyn and Frank Fiallo, Polly and Cory Rich, Elizabeth Fitter and Katie and Grant Biedermann; he is also leaves behind seventeen great- grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Phil and Kathleen Fitter to the Hess Cemetery Association, 20039 E County Road 169, Olustee, OK73560.

Online tributes may be made at kincannonfuneralhome.com