Wayne T Hittle  

Wayne HITTLE, a two-term mayor and community leader of Rochester, died at 3:24 p.m. Wednesday in Woodlawn Hospital, a day after admission. He had been ill with cancer for several months.

Mr. Hittle, 66, had resided at 115 W. 15th St., for many years. He was a lifetime resident of the Rochester area.

A Republican, Mr. Hittle was mayor from 1971 through 1979, losing a bid for an unprecedented third term. No person has served more than two terms as Rochester's mayor, although several have tried.

In addition to his city government work, Mr. Hittle was active in community and state service. He was a co-founder of the Four County Mental Health Center (now Four County Counseling Center) and one of the charter members of the Ouabache Regional Planning Commission. The latter, formed in 1974, was a cooperative effort in a six-county area toward economic development.It also facilitated the application for federal grants by local governmental agencies.

Mr. Hittle also was a member of then-Gov. Otis Bowen's Citizens Advisory Committee, and served a one-year term as president of the Nothern Indiana Mayors Round Table, which brought municipal chie f executives together for discussion of common situations.

He was deeply involved in the negotiations that led to the Rochester locations of Moore Business Forms, Hart Schaffner & Marx, Torin, Rochester Homes, Marshall Electric and Jobsite Trailer.

In recognition of his service to the state, Mr. Hittle was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Bowen. In honor of his contributions to his community, he received the Rochester Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award in 1981.

Until retiring, Mr. Hittle owned a large Enco Oil distributorship including at one time service stations on two corners of Fouth and Main streets. He also owned and operated the Island Park Restaurant and Campgrounds on Old U.S. 31 North at the Tippecanoe River.

Mr. Hittle was a past-president of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Rochester Rotary Club, and a member and former elder of the Rochester First Presbyterian Church.

He was born in Fulton County to Ralph and Nellie WHITAKER HITTLE on Sept. 22, 1923.

He attended Richland Center School and was a former president of the Richland Center Alumni Association.

He was married May 22, 1944 in Rochester to Ida A. YOUNG, who died July 10, 1989.

Mr. and Mrs. Hittle were the city's official host and hostess for the 1978 visit of the Western Saddle Club of Rochester, England, and also were a host family for one of the visiting couples.

Surviving are two daughters, Debbi HITTLE, San Carlos Park, Fla., and Mrs. James (Pam) EIKENBERRY, Rochester; three grandchildren, Scott EIKENBERRY and Jennifer and Jason HALL; two brothers, Gerald [HITTLE], Walkerton, and two sisters, Mrs. Albert (Alice) SHOTTS, Talma, and Mrs. Donald (Alta) ROCK, Macy.

Preceding in death were two brothers, Raymond and John [HITTLE].

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Rochester First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John RAMSEY officiating. Burial will be in the Rochester I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Zimmerman Brothers Funeral Home, Rochester from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday. Memorials may be - made to the First Presbyterian Church or the American Cancer Society. - Rochester Sentinel Thursday, November 16, 1989