Roger W. Hitchens, age 84, of Ocean View, DE went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury, MD.

Roger was born in Millsboro, DE on December 3, 1939 son of the late Ernest Hitchens and the late Martha (Hickman) Hitchens.  He was a graduate of Lord Baltimore High School Class of 1957 in Ocean View, DE.

Roger retired from the Dupont Company in 1991 after 32 years of service as a supervisor in the maintenance department.  While working at Dupont, he started his own prop diving business in the late 1970's – "Prop Divers" where he serviced many charter fishing boats all over the eastern shore until his stroke in 2019.

Roger was a lifetime member of the Millville Volunteer Fire Company where he joined in 1958.  Over his 65 year career with the fire company he held several positions on the operational and administrative side serving as both chief and president.  Roger was instrumental in starting the ambulance service for Millville in 1961 and also started the scuba diving team at the fire company in 1970.  He also held several positions on the state level in fire service with the Delaware Volunteers Firefighters Association.

Roger poured his heart and soul in anything that he did and that included his church.  He was a faithful and longtime member of the Ocean View Church of Christ, where he served as a Deacon for over 15 years and as a longtime Sunday School Teacher as well.  Roger was a sports enthusiast and served as a basketball referee for 20 years as part of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) and he also loved playing golf.  He was a charter member and past president of Cripple Creek Golf and Country Club and was a member of the Maryland Interclub Seniors Golf Association (MISGA).

Roger loved scuba diving, golfing, traveling with his beloved wife, Ginger, waterfowl hunting and fishing.  He will be remembered for his love and devotion to his church, family and fire service.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Virginia "Ginger" Hitchens on March 11, 2024.  Roger is survived by a son, Dale W. Hitchens (Lynn) of Ocean View, DE; a daughter, Stephanie A. Wilkinson (Jeff) of Ocean View, DE; two grandchildren, Cory Hitchens (Pam) of Georgetown, DE and Andrew Hitchens (Emily) of Holly Ridge, NC; 4 great grandchildren; a sister, Elaine Breasure (Wayne) of Ocean View, DE and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at the Ocean View Church of Christ, 55 West Ave., Ocean View, DE 19970, where friends and family may gather after 10 AM. Interment will follow at Mariner's Bethel Cemetery in Ocean View, DE.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Roger's name to the Millville Volunteer Fire Company, 35554 Atlantic Ave., Millville, DE 19967 or the Ocean View Church of Christ, 55 West Ave., Ocean View, DE 19970.