Cyril and Geraldine (Earnest) Fitch

EARNEST, FITCH, JOY, CHRISTOPHERSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/7/2016 at 15:06:48

Correctionville History
Correctionville, Woodbury County, Iowa

Submitted by Geraldine Fitch

Cyril and Geraldine (Earnest) Fitch

Cyril Eldred Fitch, son of Leslie Ray and Lola May (Joy) Fitch, was born December 24, 1924, in rural Correctionville, Iowa. Geraldine Catherine “Geri” Earnest, daughter of Raymond and Blanche (Christopherson) Earnest, was born August 1, 1931 at Ypsilanti, North Dakota. Cyril and Geri were married February 24, 1951. To this union were born three children, Grant Ray Fitch, born October 16, 1952, Marcia Rae Fitch, born May 24, 1955, and Bradley Eldred Fitch, born December 16, 1959.

Cyril grew up in rural Correctionville where he attended country school in Rock Township. He served from 1944 – 1946 in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Kimberly as a gun loader. Just after midnight on March 26, 1945, while the Kimberly was in the area of the Ryukyu Islands near Okinawa, a “suicide” attacked the ship. Cy was close enough to see the face of the pilot before impact. Although he was not injured, sailors on either side of him were hit, one was killed and the other badly injured. He returned to Correctionville after the war where he farmed, operated several gas stations, worked on construction, drove a bus for the Correctionville School and was always available to volunteer his help to family, friends and neighbors. He was a member of Correctionville Post 1750, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Mumford-Moon Post #79.

Geri graduated from Cushing High School in 1950. She was an aide for five years at the nursing home in Correctionville before she returned to school at Western Iowa Tech for nurse’s training, receiving her degree in 1976. She has worked continuously at the Correctionville Nursing Home since. As a nurse she has also cared for individuals in their homes over the years.

Cy passed away January 9, 1997, at his home in Correctionville. He is buried in the Correctionville Cemetery. Geri continues to live in their home in town.