Woodrow Clayton Fitch, 95

Woodrow Clayton Fitch was born the youngest child of Scott and Mary Fryman Fitch in Payette, Idaho, on March 24, 1913. He died Sunday, March 30, 2008, at his home in Grangeville, Idaho.

As a boy, his family moved to a small farm near Fruitland, Idaho. He attended Fruitland High School and graduated in 1931. He attended the College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho, graduating in 1936. He played four years for the C of I football team, and was selected as an all-conference center in 1934.

After graduation, Fitch was hired by the Civilian Conservation Corps as an educational advisor. His first appointment was to Slate Creek, Idaho, where he met his bride, Marjorie Dempsey. They were married July 6, 1939 in Grangeville, Idaho, and made their home at Camp Growden, Washington.

Fitch was teaching at Southwick, Idaho when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and he enlisted in the Army in August 1942. After basic training at Camp Roberts in California, he graduated Officer Candidates School at Camp McCall, North Carolina. From there he went to Fort Benning, Georgia for Paratrooper School, where he earned his coveted jump wings. He shipped out with the 11th Airborne to New Guinea, and participated in the invasion of Leyte Island in the Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa. Fitch participated in the 11th Airborne's rescue of the Los Banos prison camp, where they released 2,476 prisoners from the Japanese. He was promoted to Captain, served as Company Commander, and was later awarded the Bronze Star for valor. When the atomic bomb was dropped in Japan, Fitch knew he was soon going home.

He returned to the Camas Prairie in 1945 and began farming with his father-in-law, Ward Dempsey. He taught school and was principal in Southwick and Grangeville. In 1960, he was elected to the Grangeville School Board where he served for 26 years. He was elected President of the Idaho School Board Association, 1977-1978. He was involved with the town's baseball league for over 10 years as an umpire. He served on the UnionWarehouse Board and on the Union Highway Board. Fitch was honored as GrandMarshall of the Border Days celebration in 1998.

Woody is survived by his wife, Marge, of Grangeville; three children, Scott and wife Donna of Hood River, Oregon; Buck and wife Jeannie of Riggins, Idaho; Kate and husband David Solberg of Portland, Oregon; seven grandchildren, Jed Fitch, Erin Fitch, Julie McClanahan, Tyler Fitch, Scott Solberg, Allison Solberg, and Meredith Solberg, and two great grandchildren, Kylie and Ty McClanahan.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Gladys Gearhart, Harlen Fitch, Gretchen Barton, Roblie Fitch, and Geneva Baker.

A memorial service is set for Thursday, April 3, 2008, at 1:00 p.m., at the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville. A reception will be held following the service at theGrangeville Senior Citizens Center. All are invited to attend.

Condolences to the family may be sent to www.blackmerfuneralhome.com.