The Rev. Charles A. Kitch, 80, of 1421 E. 5th, retired Methodist minister, died Tuesday at 10:35 a.m. at Newton Memorial hospital where he had been a patient since Oct. 26. He had been in failing health for several years.

    Mr. Kitch, a long time resident of Kansas was the son of pioneers. He was born in Shelbyville, Ill., July 5, 1875, and was 11 years old when his parents made the trip to Kansas with a caravan of covered wagons. The Kitches drove two wagons in the procession of schooners of their neighbors and friends. Charles Kitch drove one of the wagons.
    They landed in Kansas, Nov. 3, 1886, and located about 25 miles from Larned, near Bison. They had a one-room sod house and at the side pitched a tent, which served as a bedroom. At the age of 14 he attended a revival meeting and joined the Methodist church. He was an Epworth League leader and taught a Sunday school class. In 1896, with $27.50 in his pocket, he came to Winfield and entered the sub-academy at Southwestern college. He was interested in college athletics, especially football and baseball, and at times served as manager of teams. He won city championship in tennis in 1902.
    He graduated from Southwestern college with the class of 1903 and the same year he was married to Anna Gertrude Haun. He received his license to preach when he was 18, and prior to his pastorate at First Church in Winfield, where he served from 1936 to 1944, when he retired, he had held pastorates at Kiowa, Marion, Larned, Wichita, El Dorado and Great Bend. He retired Oct. 1, 1944, but afterwards he preached at Dexter, Mayfield, Geuda Springs and Grand View. He served as superintendent of the Winfield district for six years. Since retiring he had been associated with his son Bob in farming southwest of Winfield.
    Surviving are his wife of the home’ five sons, Don of Sacramento, Calif., Kenneth of San Luis Obispo, Calif., Charles of Los Angeles, Paul of Wichita, and Bob of rural Winfield; one brother, Sam Kitch of Rocky Ford, Colo.; one sister, Mrs. Clara Garrison of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the Morris Funeral home.