Kittle, Charles H.

Passed: 1994-04-26

Age: 78

Source: Jackson Herald

Death Notice: 1994-05-04

Obituary Date:

Information: Prominent Ripley businessman and United National Bank board director, Charles H. Kittle, 78, died Tuesday, April 26, 1994, in Ravenswood Village Health Center after a short illness.  Mr. Kittle was part of the business community in Ripley for 49 years in the watchmaking and jewelry business.  His career began as an employee of the late Dr. Oshel Staats, who operated a small watch and jewelry store in conjunction with his optometric office.  Eventually, Mr. Kittle became owner of that business and purchased property at the present Kittle Jewelers site on Main Street.  He replaced the old building with a new two-story facility in 1957, locating his shop on the first floor.  Kittle's clientele extended into other states as his expertise in watch, clock and jewelry repair became widely known.  Mr. Kittle served his country both in war and peacetime.  A one year enlistment in 1940 in the U. S. Army that would have ended mid-December 1941 was automatically extended with the bombing of Pearl Harbor six days prior to his discharge.  Mr. Kittle served with the First Armored Division in the European Theatre of War for three years.  After the war, he served with the 812th Ordance Reserve Unit in Ripley until his retirement in 1965 as a  Warrant Officer.  Mr. Kittle was a member of the National Watch and Clock Association and Masonic Lodge 16 in Ripley.  He was born two miles north of Ripley, son of the late Thomas B. and Lucinda Hertje Kittle.  Surviving:  wife, Lucille Paugh Kittle; daughters, Kathy Kittle, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Kitty Jo Copper, Jacksonville, Fla; four grandchildren, Janell, Jeffery, Julie and Jill, Jacksonville, Fla.  Funeral services were held Saturday at Vail Funeral Home, Ripley, with the Rev. Carl Chambers officiating.  Burial was in Independence Cemetery.