Obituary of Verner Clifford Hitchcox
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Verner Clifford (Papa) Hitchcox, age 94, passed away Saturday morning October 20, 2012, at Erlanger-Bledsoe Hospital in Pikeville Tennessee surrounded by family. “Tough old bird” “man of his word” “hard worker” were only a few of the comments over the past week as friends and family sat with him in his final days on this earth. He was all of those things and more. Cancer and heart surgery were only bumps in the road to Papa. Neither kept him from continuing the farming that he loved so well. Work was never too hard and the work days were never too long. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and made a friend of everyone he met.
Papa proudly served our country during World War ll. The horrors of war were not always easy to talk about, but when the old army buddies came by the kids all gathered round just to hear the tales. Their favorite story was about their troops landing on the shores of Iwo Jima as the flag was raised. Those stories were the beginning of the sense of patriotism Papa fostered in his children.
The greatest joy in Papa’s life was his family. The greatest sorrow in his life was the loss of his infant daughter Charlotte, his oldest daughter Betty Hitchcox Rains, and his oldest son Clifford Hitchcox. Papa’s parents, Jim and Annie Songer Hitchcox, preceded him in death along with his brother Benton Hitchcox and sister Thelma Gifford.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Gladys Swafford Hitchcox; three daughters, Patty (Bill) Holland; Carol (Perry) Swafford; and Sandy (T. A.) Smith; one son Billy Joe (Geneva) Hitchcox; sister Juanita (Benton) Smith and sister-in-law Thelma Hitchcox; thirteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and a host of friends and extended family.
Funeral services with Military Honors will be held Monday, October 22, 2012 at 2 PM in the funeral home chapel with Minister T. A. Smith officiating. Burial will be in Granny Ruth’s Garden on Lower East Valley Road. Memorial contributions may be made to Betty Rains Memorial Scholarship Fund at First National Bank in Pikeville. Online condolences can be made at www.reedfamilyfh.com.
Arrangements by Putnam-Reed Funeral Home, Hwy 127 South, Pikeville, TN. Visitation Sunday 9am-9pm CDT and Monday 9am until service time.
