H. John Hittle

Published in the Rochester(IN) Sentinel, Friday, April 6, 1973 John Henry HITTLE, 46, Motley, Minn., brother of Mayor Wayne HITTLE of Rochester, and the former's wife, Margaret [HITTLE], 45, sister of Mrs. Everett RUSSELL, R.R. 1, Rochester, were shot to death at their farm home between 11 p.m. and midnight CST Wednesday. The couple's son, Daniel [HITTLE], 23, is being held in the county jail at nearby Walker, Minn., and was to be arraigned today in the Walker county court. At the arraignment, the charge will be read and bond will be set. The case then will go to a Walker county grand jury. Police authorities declined to give additional details pending the grand jury session, except to say that the couple was shot with a .22 caliber rifle and that the son was taken into custody at the scene of the crime about an hour after the shootings. John Henry Hittle lived in Richland township of Fulton county at one time. His wife was the former Margaret AULT of the Argos community. Double funeral services for John Henry HITTLE, 46, and his wife, Margaret AULT HITTLE, 45, will be conducted at the Motley (Minn.) United Methodist church at 2 p.m. Sunday. The bodies will be removed to the Grossman funeral home in Argos for graveside services in the Richland Center I.O.O.F. cemetery at 2 p.m. Monday. The Rev. Mrs. Edith BRUNNER will officiate. Mr. and Mrs. Hittle were shot to death at their farm home near Motley late Wednesday night. Mr. Hittle, who engaged in plumbing and light farming, was born near Argos March 28, 1927 to Ralph and Nellie WHITTAKER HITTLE. A former resident of Leiters Ford and Rochester, he moved with his wife to Motley three years ago. The couple was married Sept. 1, 1946 in the Richland Center United Methodist church. Surviving Mr. Hittle are four brothers, Wayne [HITTLE], Rochester; Gerald [HITTLE], of near Chicago; Raymond [HITTLE], Logansport, and James [HITTLE], Walkerton, and twin sisters, Mrs. Donald (Alta) ROCK and Mrs. Albert (Alice) SCHOTT, both of Rochester. Mrs. Hittle was born July 30, 1927 in Culver to Herman and Rose COMLEY AULT. She was a member of the Motley United Methodist church. Surviving are the mother, of Argos; three sisters, Mrs. Lloyd (Irmadean) HOSIMER, Beach Grove, Mrs. Everett (Pauline) RUSSELL, Rochester, and Mrs. John (Olive) McVEY, Knox. A brother preceded in death. Common survivors of the couple are three daughters, Mrs. Dennis (Judy) ANDERSON, Mrs. Terry (Peggy) PEACOCK and Mrs. Robert (Cindy) BUURN, all of Minnesota; a son, Daniel Joe [HITTLE], of Minnesota, and five grandchildren. SOURCE: Fulton County Indiana Obituaries – 1973 by Jean C. and Wendell C. Tombaugh _________________________ Daniel Joe Hittle , the adoptive son that killed the Hittles was executed in Texas in 2000 for the murder of a police officer. Source: Amy the Spirit Seeker (#47053721)