US Navy Beach Jumpers Assoc.

LTjg. Gary Kittelson BJU-2 1968-71 d. 6-08-2014 “Fair winds and following seas”

U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers Association (727) 4-USNBJA

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Turbo Vestri Hostilis’

ALLEN, Texas — Gary Vann Kittelson, 69, of Princeton, Texas, went home to be with the Lord on June 8, 2014, at Groom Senior Living, Allen, Texas. Kittelson passed away in his bed from Pick’s disease with his son, Mike, and granddaughter, Ashley, by his side. Cremation was effected by Heritage Cremation Service, Dallas, Texas. Services with military honors were held June 23 at the Bella Dona Chapel in McKinney, Texas. Gary was born Nov. 5, 1944, in Winfield, to Loyd Laverne and Margaret (Briley) Kittelson. Gary grew up on a farm near Winfield with his brother, Rick, and two sisters, Carol and Mary Beth. He graduated from Winfield High School in 1962 and then from Kansas State University with a degree in architecture. Gary met and married his wife Lynn (Porteous) Kittelson in college. After graduation he was drafted into the United States Army but instead joined the U.S. Navy. He went to Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and was stationed at Little Creek, Va., with the Beachmasters Unit 2. Gary was deployed overseas several times during his service and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant. After serving his term in the Navy, Gary and Lynn moved to Dallas with their two children, Mike and Jeff, and Gary took a position as an architect and built over a 30-year career in the business. Gary lived most of his adult life in the Wylie and Princeton, Texas, areas. He was a country boy and mountain man at heart and always wanted to get out of the city, but only got Lynn as far as Wylie, where they settled and raised their family. Later in life, Gary and Lynn started the Crown of Thorns business that was really a ministry to spread the gospel. Gary loved to hunt and fish and most of all he loved to make things; he could make about anything out of wood or metal. After battling the disease longer than its expected life span of two to 10 years, Gary eventually succumbed to Pick’s disease, a rare form of dementia. Being the overachiever that he was, Gary fought his illness for over 11 years. Gary was a man of great faith and loved the Lord and his family with all his heart. Survivors include his two sons, Mike Kittelson, and wife, Krista, Allen, Texas, and Jeff Kittelson, Celeste, Texas; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Carol Collins, and husband, Bill, Winfield, and Mary Beth Trogdon, and husband, Duane, Longview, Texas; and brother, Rick Kittelson, and wife, Debbie, Coppell, Texas.