Thomas Lee Hitch

Thomas Lee Hitch passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026, at the age of 84, with his wife Ellen at his side.

Tom was born on July 21st, 1942, in Iola, Kansas. As a young boy in Wyoming, he delivered the Denver Post newspaper and went hunting with his father. Later, in Big Rapids, Michigan, he served as an acolyte at his local church and participated in the Boy Scouts. He would graduate from Big Rapids High School, where he played on both the basketball and golf teams. He continued his education at Ferris State College (now University) and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Tom and Ellen saw each other for the first time when the Hitch Family, newly arrived in Big Rapids, MI, attended church at St. Andrew’s for the first time. Sitting in the first-row Tom was right in front of the choir where Ellen was singing. According to Tom, he leaned over to his brother Chuck and told him “I’m going to marry her one day.” They dated and “went steady” through high school and college. Tom proposed and they were married on June 12th, 1965 in that same church.

Tom worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and made sales calls throughout the greater Columbus area. After retiring he and a couple buddies from work established a small business called Smoker’s Value which would grow to a total of four stores.

Tom was an active member of St John’s Episcopal Church in Worthington, OH throughout the time he lived in Columbus. He served as Senior Warden, was a member of the Stewardship Committee, helped with fundraising, and served as both a greeter and usher during services.

Tom enjoyed bowling and golf in his early years. He won the Meceola Country Club Golf Championship in 1961, 1964 and 1965. Later, he an Ellen would enjoy taking their family camping in Northern Michigan along with his siblings and their families. He and Ellen would eventually purchase a small lake house on Buckeye Lake where he enjoyed fishing and taking his grandchildren on boat rides. He also enjoyed touring the lake and watching the nesting herons with Ellen.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Helen Hitch as well as his sister Margaret Siemiantkowski.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ellen C. Hitch, and his children Thomas S. Hitch “Scott”, Karen E. Stahl and Kenneth R. Hitch. He has 7 Grandchildren, Alexander, Ethan, Ryan, Emma, Eliana, Katelyn, and Amelia. He is also survived by his brothers Charles “Chuck” and Steve.

A service of Christian burial will take place on Thursday, September 17th, at 1:30 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Worthington, OH. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your favorite charity or to St. John’s Episcopal Church by visiting stjohnsworthington.org/give/ and making a general pledge.