VILLA RICA — Kenneth Paul Hitzeman, age 71, of Villa Rica, Georgia, passed away Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017.

Mr. Hitzeman was born on March 8, 1946, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the son of the late Paul G. Hitzeman and Bertha Mary Geise Hitzeman. He served in the United States Marine Corps. He retired from ALP Lighting in 2010, as an engineering manager and was a member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church.

Following service in Vietnam, “Kenny” held an apprenticeship at General Electric and worked nights to earn his master of mechanical engineering in his hometown of Fort Wayne. In 1979, he moved his family to Georgia, where the Hitzemans now call home. In 2005, he retired from Cooper Lighting in Americus with several patents, and he spent the last 12 years of his life close to family and friends in West Georgia.

Throughout his life, Ken shared his remarkable woodworking talent with all who he encountered. He worked in his “Santa’s Workshop” year-round to create gifts for the children of his associates and, especially, his beloved children and grandchildren. He showered them all with these gifts, but (most of all) with his gift of generosity.

A lifelong accomplished golfer, he played from the time he was a small child until his final months. He loved the competition, but he taught everyone through his play that the goal was to always be a better version of themselves by taking part in that beautiful game.

Survivors include his wife of over 50 years, Dorothy M. Hitzeman; daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Bruce Redford of Villa Rica; sons and daughters-in-law, Kelly and Brenda Hitzeman of Phenix, Ala., Kurt and Andrea Hitzeman of Carrollton; grandchildren, Teighlor Redford, Carleigh Redford, Tyler Hitzeman, Lilly Kate Hitzeman; sister, Carol Jean Pyle of Decatur, Ind. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Beverly I. Dikty.

The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday at Almon Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be MSG Kelly Hitzeman, USA, (ret.), Bruce Redford, Kurt Hitzeman, Tyler Hitzeman.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, at Andersonville National Cemetery with the Rev. Bruce Laird and the Rev. Hazel Glover officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 606 Newnan Street, Carrollton, Georgia 30117.

Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfunerallhome.com.

Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton is in charge of arrangements.