Emery D. ‘Bud’ Kittle, 83, of Sterling, died Sunday, February 16, 2020. He was born April 24, 1936, in Hutchinson, to Emery Rueben and Florence Elizabeth (Cook) Kittle.
Bud graduated from Reno County High School in 1954 and Hutchinson Community College in 1961. He served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1959. He attended Sterling Evangelical Bible Church where God strengthened his faith.
Bud will be lovingly remembered by family and friends as a man who loved God, a devoted husband, father and grandfather who always enjoyed watching his grandkids activities and spending time with family and friends. He lived by a simple code; tell the truth, work hard, and help others whenever you can.
Bud was an accountant in Scottsbluff, NE, where he met his wife, Kathy. On July 10, 1965, he married Katherine Mae ‘Kathy’ Adams in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where they lived for 16 years. In 1981, Bud and Kathy returned to the family farm where Bud was born in Nickerson. He enjoyed farming the remainder of his life.
Bud is survived by: his wife of 54 years, Kathy of Nickerson; children, Tamara Chesney (Jason) of Nickerson, Emery ‘Buddy’ Dean Kittle, Jr. (Jena) of Olathe; grandchildren, Alan Roberts, Madelyn and Claire Chesney, Jackson, Elias, Allison, and Emma Kittle; daughter from Bud’s previous marriage to Judy Kolb, Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Kittle-Martinez (Buddy Taylor) of McLouth, KS; grandchildren, Jessica Kittle (Brad Ayres, Christopher Kittle; great-grandchildren, Savanah, Nathan, Kylie, Lily, and Isaac; great-great-grandchildren, Cooper and Marshall; sister, Blanche Pearce of Wichita; aunt, Lola Rumford of Abbyville; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, and son, Ricky Dean Kittle.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Sterling Evangelical Bible Church, 3017 N Sterling Rd, Sterling, with Pastor Phil Carroll officiating. Private inurnment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson, with military honors conducted by the McConnell Air Force Base. Friends may sign the book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at Elliott Mortuary. The family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sterling Evangelical Bible Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.