John M. Hite

John M. Hite

John M. Hite, age 88, a former resident of Wichita, Kan., and more recently of Davenport, Fla., died Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, at his home in Davenport. He was born Feb. 28, 1927, in Uniontown, Kan., the son of Alva Otis Hite and Gladys Mae Cox Hite. He graduated from Uniontown High School and later served with the United States Navy during World War II. He married Marianna Ruth Koch on Feb. 7, 1945. She preceded him in death in April of 1968. He later married Nadine Rutliff in 1987 and she died in 1990. In earlier years, John farmed near Uniontown. He later worked for Safe-Way Grocery store in Fort Scott and later owned and operated C&H Mercantile in Uniontown. He then moved to Wichita where he was employed by Beach Aircraft for many years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. While in Wichita, he was a member of the Brookhaven Baptist Church. After moving to Florida, he was a member of the Victory Baptist Church in Intersession City.

Survivors include a son, James Hite and wife, Doris, of Wichita, Kan., and a daughter, Diana Ford and husband, Charles, of Davenport, Fla.; four grandchildren, Michelle Welch, Chris Hite, Josh Hite and Tim Hite; 12 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson. Also surviving is a sister, Alvera Witsell, of Chico, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alva Hite and Gladys Hite McKinnis; a grandson, John Ford; two granddaughters, Becky Ford and Lisa Ford and a brother, Alva Hite.

Pastor Charles Ford and Rev. Robert Reid will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Monday at the Brookhaven Baptist Church in Wichita. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at the Uniontown Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No. 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Memorials are suggested to the Victory Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.