Remembered for his devoted love for his family & friends, his kindness, generosity and integrity in all he did. Passed away on May 30, 2007 of a heart attack. Bob was born in Farnam, Nebraska, the youngest of eight children. Bob graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1940 and came to Riverside in 1941 to attend Riverside Junior College. Upon graduation, he entered military service and was commissioned an officer in the Army Air Corps. During his pilot training, Bob and Lois Kriege were married in Riverside at the First United Methodist Church, where they were members of the church choir. Lois passed away in 1990 after 46 years of marriage. During WWII, Bob served with the 326th Fighter Ferry Squadron. He retired as a Major, USAF, in 1984. Bob was a former President of the Board of Directors, March Field Museum, and was very active in museum fund-raising projects. He was a life member of the P-38 National Association. Bob received a B.A. from the University of Redlands and a Master's Degree from USC in Public Administration. In 1950 he was employed by Riverside County as a Deputy Probation Officer and served as the County's First Juvenile Court Referee. In 1963 Bob served as the County's first Assistant Administrative Officer and was appointed by the Board of Supervisors as Chief Administrative Officer, a position he held for 7 years until his retirement in 1984. Public service was the cornerstone of Bob's life. He has served as past President of the Riverside Chapters of the United Way, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Kiwanis Club, Riverside Community Foundation, the Council on Finance of the United Methodist Church Conference, and was a past member of the Board of Directors, YMCA and the Janet Goeske Community Center, and was a current member of the International Relations Council, Kiwanis Club, Daedalions, Historical Society, The Riverside Men's Breakfast Forum, and a Meals on Wheels volunteer, as well as a long-time church choir member and current Archivist. In 1987, Bob was appointed by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the Riverside City Council to chair the Riverside City/County Commission for the Celebration of the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, and in 1993 he chaired the Advisory Board/Foundation to plan The County's 100th Birthday Celebration. Bob and Kathryn Wright were married at First United Methodist Church in 1993. Both were actively involved in church and community activities until her death on Jan. 21, 2007. Bob was the founding Director, Chairman of the Library Foundation and recently completed the Veteran's Oral History Project. Bob is survived by his daughters Cheryl Briggs of Ashland, OR and Marsha Green of Frazier Park and by three grandchildren, Jeff Briggs, Melissa Cobb and Sara Green. Memorial Service Wednesday June 6th 10:30 a.m at First United Methodist Church 4845 Brockton Ave., Riverside. Burial at Riverside National Cemetery at 1:45 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Fitch/Kriege Memorial Scholarship Fund C/O First United Methodist Church, 4845 Brockton, Ave., Riverside, CA. 951-683-7831

Published in the Riverside Press-Enterprise on 6/5/2007

Robert Fitch, 84; ex-chief administrative officer for Riverside County

Robert Fitch, 84, a former chief administrative officer for Riverside County and a local historian, died of a heart attack Wednesday while visiting the Biola University campus in La Mirada.

Fitch began working for the county in 1950 as an assistant probation officer and retired in 1984 as chief administrative officer.

Over the years he was influential in the development of Riverside County, and during his retirement he remained active in civic life as a volunteer.

Fitch was born March 12, 1923, in Farnam, Neb., and moved to Riverside after graduating from high school.

During World War II he served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

A history buff, Fitch wrote two books, “Profile of a Century: Riverside County, California, 1893-1993,” and “Roman Warren: Cowboy Aviator,” which tells the true story of an aviator who made a historic flight under the arch of Riverside’s Mission Bridge in 1926.

Published in the Los Angeles Times, edition B-11, 2 June 2007.

DECEASED:Robert "Bob" FITCH
BIRTH:March 2, 1923, at Farnam to Charlotte (Ainlay) and William Fitch
DEATH:died May 30, 2007, at Riverside, CA
SERVICES:June 6 at the first United Methodist Church at Riverside
BURIAL:Riverside National Cemetery
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY his parents; his first wife, Lois; his wife, Kathryn; sisters - Genevieve Shelton, Glenvose McCormick, Doris Smith and Lucille Hyde; brothers - Ronald Fitch, Gene Fitch and Bill Fitch

Published in the Gothenburg Times, 5 July 2007.