Cover photo for William Aitken's Obituary
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1920 William 2019

William Aitken

June 4, 1920 — September 5, 2019

William Aitken, 99, of Terre Haute, passed away on September 5, 2019 in Terre Haute, IN.

Visitation will be at 11.30am-1:00pm, Monday, September 9, 2019 at Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 S. 25th Street. Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm with Reverend David Rockhill of Maple Avenue Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park with military services by V.F.W. Post #972.

William Aitken was born in Terre Haute, Indiana to William and Jean Aitken on June 4, 1920. He graduated from Garfield High School - where he first met his lifetime partner, in 1938. He married Helen Louise Armstrong on February 24, 1944 in Parris Island, South Carolina. He graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1942. He worked as a dentist for 45 years and was twice selected Vigo County Dentist of the Year. He was a veteran of World War Two, serving as a lieutenant in the Navy and providing dental care to American soldiers during the US Occupation of Japan.

He was president of the Terre Haute Lecture Club, a lifelong member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, president of the St. Louis Dental Research Group, on the board of directors of Sunset Harbor Inc, and a 50-year member of both the Shriners and the Scottish Rite. He was an avid golfer and played until the age of 96. After retiring he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for ten years, and later joined Helen in delivering Meals on Wheels.

William Aitken was an accomplished private aircraft pilot, a skilled award-winning watercolorist and a member of the Wabash Valley Art Guild. He was tirelessly creative, whether in woodwork and antique clock collection and repair or in designing innovative fiberglass kayaks and mobile homes. He and Helen were lifelong travelers, whether to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, the scenic splendors of Ecuador or the wilds of Kenya.

William and Helen Aitken have been longtime members of Maple Avenue Methodist Church.

William Aitken is preceded in death by his parents, William and Jean Aitken and his brother James Aitken.

William and Helen Aitken celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in February.

William Aitken is survived by his beloved wife Helen; his children Judith Aitken Fell of Tampa, Florida, William Aitken of Montreal, Canada and Janet Aitken of Wellington, Colorado; and by grandchildren Lara Fell Hendrix and Barrett Fell of Tampa, Florida, as well as three great grandchildren, Addison Fell and Alexandra and Grayson Hendrix, all of Tampa, Florida.

Memorials may be given to Maple Avenue Methodist Church or Meals On Wheels.

The family of William Aitken wish to extend their sincere thanks to the dedicated caregivers at Westminster Village and Hospice of Wabash Valley.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Aitken, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, September 9, 2019

11:30am - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home

605 South 25th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47803

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Service

Monday, September 9, 2019

Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home

605 South 25th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47803

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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