John Boyington Hitchcock, 96, of Mount Vernon died Saturday June 7, 2014.

He was born to the late Paul and Hazel Hitchcock, October 21, 1917, in Belfair, Washington.

John graduated from Ocosta High School in 1935 and received a bachelor’s degree in math and education from Washington State College in 1940.

He began his teaching career at Mason City High School, at Grand Coulee Dam, where he met and married the late Rebecca Mounter on December 13, 1941.

Shortly thereafter John reported to active duty and served as an Army Lieutenant in New Guinea during World War II.

After the war, John resumed his teaching career in Aberdeen and later returned to Mason City as high school principal. Over the course of his career he served as superintendent of Rosalia and Quillayute Valley School Districts and retired as assistant superintendent of the yakima School District.

He is survived by four children, Karen Edens, of Odessa, Washington, Cathy Hitchcock, of Portland, Oregon, John Hitchcock, of Seattle and Mark Hitchcock, of Bow, Washington. He is also survived by two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Cremation arrangements were under the direction of the Neptune Society. A private memorial service was held on July 4, 2014 on Harstine Island.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial donations be made to a charity of your choosing.