Fortis Luther Fitting happily went home to his Heavenly Father June 30, 2015. Fortis was born August 26, 1919 in York, NE to a German immigrant, John C. Fitting, who was a Lutheran minister and a German mother, Emma Anna Marie Catherine Elizabeth Benien, born in Ohio. His family lived in Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, and Texas. Fortis worked in a Bomb Loading Plant and as a Dental Supply Salesman before being drafted into the Army in 1943. After the war he returned home to his wife and three year old son, Gary. Another son , Richard and daughter, Patricia were born while he worked as a radio and TV repairman. In 1952, he moved to Rosenberg and worked at Herfort Gift Shop, managed a Conoco Station then went to work for United Geophysical doing oil exploration.
While with United he was transferred for 2 years to look for oil in Queensland, Australia where he was instrumental in finding the locations of the first five oil wells. Returning home, Fortis went to work for Geodata working with large computer systems storing Seismic data. From there he retired to live full time in Cuero being very active in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church teaching Adult Sunday School, the Cuero Lion’s Club and the Thursday Morning Men’s Prayer Breakfast. In 2005 after his wife, Robbie passed away, he moved to Waller to live with his daughter and son-in-law where he came to love the people of St. John’s Lutheran Church and his Sunday School class. Fortis is preceded by his parents, brothers and sister-in-laws, Victor and Alice and Hans and Lillian, sister Ellen Marie, two wives, Berniece and Robbie, sons, Gary and Richard, daughter-in-law, Judy Daniel and son-in-law John Moore.
He is survived by daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Alan Shelfer of Waller, step daughter, Bunnie Moore of Rosenberg and step son, Jimmy Daniels of Cotulla. He has 17 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be Thursday, July 9 at 2 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Cuero with burial following. There will also be a Memorial Service on Saturday, August 8 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waller with a luncheon following.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of Cuero, St. John’s Lutheran Church of Waller, or the Texas Lions Camp of Kerrville as these were Fortis’ passion.
You may sign the guest book or send condolences at www.freundfuneralhome.com. Freund Funeral Home, 361-275-2343.
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