Victor Hite

Victor Harold “Vic” Hite of Port Orchard, WA passed away peacefully May 15, 2009 having courageously dealt with mesothelioma cancer for 3 years while continuing to live life to the fullest.   On October 29. 1937 he was born to Victor L. and Joyce A.Hite in Bremerton where he grew up and graduated from Bremerton High School in 1955.  He served as a U.S. Marine for 3 years.  He married Diana L. Cummings on June 4, 1957 in Bremerton. They made their first home at Camp Pendleton, CA while Vic finished his marine service.  They returned to Bremerton in 1958. They moved from Bremerton to Port Orchard in 1965 where they built the first of three homes, two in Port Orchard and a summer home at Haven Lake in Mason County.  Vic designed and built them himself.  For 25 years he owned and managed several rental homes in Port Orchard and Bremerton He began in shop 51 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in the electrical apprentice program  in 1958 and progressed to nuclear supervisor. He moved to the nuclear codes as a nuclear inspector, then a reactor plant general foreman  and retired in 1991 as an Assistant Nuclear Repair Officer.  Vic enjoyed family events, various outdoor activities, dancing, RV travel, their winter home in the Florida Keys and working part time there at a hardware store.   He loved to shop antique and thrift stores as well as garage sales for bargains. He was a current member of Bremerton Elks Lodge 1181, past president of Haven Lake Property Owners’ Association and Kitsap Poggie Club, also a former volunteer fireman for Navy Yard City fire department. Vic is survived by his wife, Diana; daughters Teri Brekke of Bremerton and Kathy (Dan) Posey of Port Orchard; grandchildren Darren Posey of Moscow ID, Ryan Posey of Port Orchard, Kelli (Brendon) Wilber, and his precious great-granddaughter, Kaylynn Wilber, all of Bremerton;  father Victor L. (Margaret) Hite of Redding, CA; and brother, Roger (Nancy) Phalen of Beaverton, OR.   Vic was preceded in death by his mother Joyce A. Franklin and brother Ronald T. Hite. A celebration of life will be held at Rill’s Life Tribute Center in Port Orchard May 30, 2009 at 2:30 pm.  Following that, and at Vic’s request, there will be a celebration of memories at the Bethel Grange Hall at 5998 Bethel Rd SE.   In lieu of flowers please make donations in his name to Group Health Foundation,1730 Minor Ave.  Suite 1500, Seattle, WA 98101  or Harrison Medical Center, 2520 Cherry Ave., Bremerton, WA 98310.