Dennis Frederick Hitzing

Dennis Frederick Hitzing, loving son, brother, father, grandfather, and friend passed away unexpectedly, and far too soon, on Monday, February 6th, 2023 at the age of 70 in Loudon County, Tennessee.

Dennis was born June 17, 1952 in Jacksonville, Florida to Dewey Carmi and Leona Hudson Hitzing, the third of their five children. He was a 1970 graduate of Paxon High School and 1974 graduate of University of West Florida, where he majored in social work and was the foster parent and counselor to a household of troubled teens. He started his career in the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier and quickly advanced to Postal Inspector. Dennis moved for his career with the USPS from Jacksonville, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Knoxville, Tennessee. He found his forever home on Melton Hill Lake in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

Dennis is survived by his four daughters and sons-in-law: Kelly Hitzing and William Perry of Miami, Florida, Katie Hitzing of Canton, Georgia, Ali and Justin Robinson of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Jessie Hitzing and Lorn Smith of Littleton, Colorado; beloved grandchildren: Hazel Perry-Hitzing (age 3.5), Chloe Robinson (3), Quinn Smith (1), and Camden Robinson (10 months - named after her Papa Dennis); siblings: Sherry Dewberry of Jacksonville, Florida, Doug (Judy) Hitzing of Jacksonville, Florida, Jeff (Resa) Hitzing of Daytona Beach, Florida, Maggie (Mike) Ward of Daytona Beach, Florida, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends: Ellen Hitzing of Farragut, Tennessee, Gail and Richard Turpen of Jacksonville, Florida, and Lysa Hitzing of Lenoir City, Tennessee.

Dennis was preceded in death by his loving parents, Dewey and Leona, brother-in-law, Michael J. Dewberry, and grandson, Brooks Robinson.

After his retirement from the USPS in 2008, Dennis spent his time on various hobbies and passions: enjoying time on the lake, traveling with loved ones and on mission trips, taking classes - such as tennis and Spanish - at the local community college (which took him on a study abroad to Cuba), keeping in touch with his high school classmates (attending most recently his 50th reunion in 2021), managing, coordinating, and serving a local food pantry (Helping Hands), and memorializing family history on the Web site, Find a Grave. However, more than anything else, he loved spending time with his family - his siblings and their spouses, his daughters and sons-in-law, and most recently, his grandchildren. His life changed forever when he became 'Papa Dennis'. His five grandchildren were his greatest joy, and he was adored by them. His legacy of love for family, serving the community, and being a lifelong learner will live on in their hearts forever.