Dale C Hittle

WHEELOCK-  Dale Charles Hittle, 71, died suddenly at his home in Wheelock, Vermont in the early hours of December 25th, 2018.

He came into this world in the last hour of April 3rd, 1947.  He was the first child of Leo and Elizabeth Hittle.

He let no grass grow under his feet.  He collected recyclables before it was fashionable: scrap metal, paper and bottles.  Looking for a more reliable income he had an early morning paper route delivering The Milwaukee Journal.  When the paper's printers went on an extended strike he got a job setting bowling pins.  This was in a time when pins were close to 4 pounds each.  This was all before he was 15 years old.  

From attending Boys Tech High School in Milwaukee he joined the Marines in 1964.  He served for 6 years seeing being stationed in Vietnam.   

Upon return he graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.  Then he went on to gain a Masters of Business Administration degree from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.

From this point on Dale was in full sail mode.  The purchase of a home in Medford, Mass. and the fun of exercising his first dog - Sasha, he was introduced to The Middlesex Fells Reservation just a short walk from home.  He was an active member of "The Friends of The Fells".  A citizens' group active in the conservation of that 2,200 acres and its many bodies of water there in.  

His interest in conservation led to converting his second home to the power of solar panels and promoting others - businesses and private homes to do the same.  

During the early years in Massachusetts a lodge in Cabot, Vermont won his heart for the Northeast Kingdom.  The lodge became a long weekend haunt which led to  moving here to be a resident of Vermont in the 80's.

Shortly after the move, when it was clear that being in the NEK was going to be all and more than was experienced as a vacationer, Dale threw himself into helping others to find the "right" place for themselves.  His enthusiasm for his work was represented by his license plate "Create".   Through his years in real estate sales he felt he helped others to create their dreams here.     

Dale was a strong, independent, quiet person.  This occupation provided the opportunity to meet many people who had similar interests outside of real estate which he enjoyed.  He felt fortunate to have many people in his life who were: younger and older, male and female; small business and larger, academic and hands on to fill his life with good conversation, information, help and friendship.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Barbara: his sisters and brother - Sheila (Tom) West, Lee (Rick) Reynolds, Tom Hittle and Darlene (Duane) Grandbois.   

The des Groseilliers Funeral Home is in care of arrangements and will include details of Dale’s services at dgfunerals.com.  Due to the weather conditions in the Northeast Kingdom and the desire of Dale's family in southern states wishing to attend, a memorial service is being planned for late March or early April.  The date will also be announced in a future edition of The Chronicle and The Hardwick Gazette.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dale C Hittle, please visit our floral store.