Barbara "Jo" Phelps Hitch

Barbara “Jo” Hitch, age 92, widow of John Edward Hitch, passed away April 12th at Life Care Center of Blount County. Born September 30, 1931 to the late Glenn and Iva Tipton Phelps. She is a descendant of the Tipton, Myers, and Lawson families of Cades Cove. Graduated from Maryville High School where she was a cheerleader; graduate of Knoxville Business College where she was president of her speech class; and attended the University of Tennessee. In her earlier years she sang professionally with dance and western bands, in church, community choirs wedding and civic events. She and her late husband served as national officers in the American Gold Wing Association(AGWA); Jo wrote a monthly column for the AGWA newspaper and received the Editor’s Award two years. She played basketball, baseball, softball, bowled, enjoyed riding her motorcycle with her husband and friends, water skiing, cross stitching, crocheting, cooking, and watching sports events.She started her career with WBIR radio station; later joined National Life & Accident Insurance Co. as secretary to the manager of the Knoxville West office. She retired from Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge with over 30 years of service and was awarded the company’s Award of Excellence, the highest award given to employees.In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by grandparents John Martin and Martha Josephine Lawson Tipton; Samuel Houston and Rhoda Ethel Phelps; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Betty and Gordon Wilson, cousins Don (Faye) Colvin, Bobby Smith and several aunts, uncles.Survivors include cousins and their families; Karen (Ron) Hatfield, Colorado; Connie (George) Dowdy, Dwanna Smith, all of Florida; Freeda (Hugo) Koopsman, California; niece Betsy Kirkland, Louisville; a very special son-and daughter Steve and Beth Wigley and their family; many special, remarkable friends. At her request there will be no formal receiving of friends. Graveside service will be held April 16th at 11am at Holston College Cemetery, Louisville with Rev. Magan Stubblefield presiding and McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home handling final arrangements. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember “Jo” are requested to make memorials to Holston College Cemetery Assoc., c/o Joyce Butcher, 3644 Channel Dr., Louisville, TN 37777 or to Middlesettlements UMC Cemetery Assoc., 2729 Middlesettlements Rd., Maryville, TN 37801, for use in maintaining cemetery grounds.