Theodore E. Hotchkiss

Theodore E. Ted Hotchkiss, 86, of Fort Collins passed away May 1, 2011 at Poudre Valley Hospital. Ted was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 25, 1924. Due to early death of his father, he was raised in the Illinois Masonic Orphans Home in La Grange, Illinois from 1929 until 1942. He was educated in local suburban schools graduating from high school in June 1942 just after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Ted enrolled as Aviation Cadet but later was released with 36, 000 other cadets and assigned to infantry. Mr. Hotchkiss spent 18 months in the European Theater as an infantry medic. Upon his return home he attended college for two and a half year but did not graduate. He met Libby Tittle on the Bluebird bus line in 1948. They were married on September 17, 1949 in Berwyn, Illinois and celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2009. The greater part of Ted's working career was in sales work. He worked for Prudential, and Bankers Life and Casualty ending his career as National Director of Training for Bankers. Ted was active in Golden K Kiwanis, Masonic Home Alumni, Editor of Old Timer's Newsletter for Home Alumni, and volunteered at Spring Creek Nursing Home.
He is survived by wife, Libby; son and daughter in law, Michael and Gayle; two grandsons, Jedediah and Jacob; and two nieces, Marilyn Baird and Carolyn Hansen. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Make a Wish Foundation of Colorado in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort collins, Colorado 80524. A Memorial Service with flag presentation will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday at Plymouth Congregational Church, 916 W Prospect Rd. Interment will be held at Fort McPherson Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska at a later date.