WBNOWQCT Your favorite Rock & Classics!
Otis (Bud) Hitt, of Archbold, Ohio went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the age of 92 years on November 22, 2017. He attended Archbold Evangelical Church.
Bud was born on May 5, 1925 in rural Bryan Ohio to Zoe (Walker) Hitt and Glen R. Hitt. They moved to Archbold when Bud was three years old. Bud worked at various jobs from the time he was 15. He graduated from Archbold High School in 1943. Following graduation, he worked at Lauber Manufacturing and then Aro Equipment, a factory in Michigan building bombers for the war.
Bud met Gertrude Seiler when he was a mail carrier for the Archbold Post Office. They were married August 4, 1946. They celebrated 70 years of marriage until Gertrude passed away on February 2, 2017. Bud and Gertrude were blessed with three daughters who survive, Dawn (Tom) Wyse of Archbold, Penny Hitt of Defiance, Candy (Alan) Hutchins of Pennsylvania. Surviving also are six grandchildren, Kami (Rob) Bentley, Abe (Angela) Wyse, Daniel (Lindsey) Stuckey, Krista Brown, Tiffany (Ryan) Heller, and Brigitta (Sam) Blood. Nine great-grandchildren, Baiylee Ruger, Bryer and Keiylee Bentley, Kyler and Aubrie Stuckey, Mila and Silas Wyse, Haley, Jenni and Tyler Brown. He is also survived by one sister, Diana (Joe) Miller and many nieces, nephews and many friends. Bud was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Frankie J. Wyse, two stillborn great grandchildren, sister Glenedene Buttermore, and son-in-law Alan Hutchins.
As a young married couple in 1948, Bud and his wife Gertrude bought a restaurant in Stryker. In 1950 they moved the business to Archbold and established “Gert and Bud’s”, first as a drive-in restaurant, then as an eat-in dining restaurant which became quite popular with local teenagers.
Bud was a woodworker like his father before him, and built his own home and his in-laws’ home with all hand tools. As a master craftsman of archery bows, Bud began selling a handcrafted line called “Hit Bows” while still managing the restaurant. Later the business was expanded to include trophies and renamed as “Hit Trophy.” The restaurant was closed in 1960.
Bud, Gertrude, and their daughters had a ministry traveling all over Northwest Ohio and neighboring states singing gospel music for 13 years. During this period of time, they recorded two albums as “The Gospel Hits” in Nashville.
In 1975, Bud and Gertrude began serving with Bill Glass Prison Crusades all over the USA. For 19 years they provided the morning services for local inmates at the Correction Center of Northwest Ohio. They retired from their ministries after 34 years but continued sharing the message of salvation with anyone they crossed paths with. Bud never lost his zeal for bringing souls to Christ. Bud and Gertrude were very active in the local branch of the Gideons International ministry. They wrote a book “Power of Ordinary People” about their life and ministry together.
Following their retirement from Hit Trophy, Bud and Gertrude sold the business to their oldest daughter and son-in-law, Dawn and Tom Wyse. Bud and Gertrude spent their retirement years enjoying winter months in Florida or South Carolina.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 26 at 3 to 7 p.m. The celebration of his life will be held on Monday, November 27 at 11:00 A.M., where Pastor Jesse Kahler and Pastor Roger Andrews will be officiating. Both visitation and celebration service will be held at Archbold Evangelical Church. A private burial will be held at Floral Grove Cemetery prior to celebration service. Grisier Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Family requests that memorial gifts to be given to Archbold Evangelical Church and the Gideons International Bible ministry.