Lawrence W. Hitchins

Lawrence Welton Hitchins, Larry was born Jan 31, 1929 in Frostburg, Maryland to Robert Holt Hitchins and Kathleen Welton Hitchins. He attended Mercersburg Academy preparatory school in Mercersburg PA, graduating June 1947. Larry attended M.I.T., graduating June 1951 with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering and was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the USAF. Larry was called to active duty and was assigned to the Air Force Missile Test Center at Cape Canaveral (Kennedy), FL in 1952 with duty as a Range Clearance Officer. After separating from the Air Force, Larry attended Carnegie Tech (Mellon University) earning a Master’s degree in Industrial Administration. There, Larry met and fell in love with undergraduate Jane Watkins from Warren Ohio. They married in Warren September 24th, 1955 and moved to Minneapolis to accept Larry's first position at Honeywell as a Production Engineer. Larry and Jane returned to Pittsburgh in 1957 where Larry accepted a position at Westinghouse Atomic Fuel Department in Cheswick, PA. He worked as a Project manager for the division that produced nuclear cores for the naval submarine nuclear reactors. In 1964, Larry accepted a position in the Commercial New Product department at the downtown HQ of USS. In 1973, he transferred to the Tin Mill Products division, remaining there until retiring in 1998. Larry’s role at U.S.S was to work with clients designing better ways to manufacture steel cans. In 1968 Larry and Jane moved from the North Hills to Sewickley where they raised their children and became active members of St. Stephen’s Anglican church, The Edgeworth Club and and engaged residents of Sewickley. Larry recently resided at Masonic Village Sewickley and enjoyed the Masonic’s wonderful facilities, happy hour at the pub with his friends, and the exceptional care and kindness of the staff. Larry was predeceased by his wife Jane( June 2018) and his daughter Stephanie Lerew (January 2024). He is survived by his son, Owen Hitchins (Dorothy), grandchildren Ian Lerew (Amanda), Caitlin Lerew (Hillary), Patrick Hitchins (Janki), Claire Hitchins and great grandchildren Reed Lerew and Dhruv Hitchins. A funeral service will be said by Rev. Dr. Canon John McDonald on Saturday, July 13th at 10:00 am at St. Stephens Anglican Church, Sewickley PA. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to People Helpers at St. Stephen's Church. 

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