CALDWELL - Graydon M. Hitchcock, 88, of Caldwell, died Thursday, Sept. 19, 1991, in a Caldwell nursing home.
    Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Caldwell.  The Rev. Raymond A. Thompson of the Caldwell United Methodist Church will officiate.  Arrangements are under direction of the Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell.
    Mr. Hitchcock, a retired mechanic and machinist, was born Aug. 26, 1903, in Cherokee County, Kan.  He was the fifth child in a family of nine children born to George Arnold and Pearl Morgan Hitchcock.
    In 1906, the family, along with grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, traveled in a caravan of eight wagons and a surrey from the Kansas-Missouri state line to the prairies of Colorado, east of Colorado Springs to homestead.
    Graydon's mother took her organ with her, and Sunday school was held in their home which was initially a dugout home, until their home and a schoolhouse were built.  Sunday school and church services were held there until a church was built.  Graydon was raised in this community and attended school there, and later at Truston Consolidated School.
    In November of 1919, his parents and the four younger children moved back to Kansas and settled near Parsons.  Father Hitchcock went by train with the household goods, horses and machinery.  Graydon, at age 16, drove the family car, an Overland "90," accompanied by his mother, a sister and two younger brothers.  They arrived at their destination on the third day.
    Graydon had always been dependable and resourceful.  He soon found employment at a neighboring livestock ranch.  He was responsible for the operation and repair of all the motor vehicles, trucks, feed grinders and machinery.  He could also ride a horse and rope a calf as well as the cowboys.  He held this position for 11 years.
    He married his employer's daughter, Lucille Catherine Wright, on Dec. 24, 1925.  They moved to Southern California in 1930, where Graydon graduated from Hempfill Diesel School in Los Angeles.  He was inspector at the DeSoto assembly plant in Maywood, Calif., and later was the shop foreman at the Chrysler-Plymouth Agency in Whittier, Calif., for several years.
    During World War II, he was the machine shop foreman at Washburn Machine & Tool Co. in Whittier, a firm manufacturing aircraft parts.  He received a merit award for excellency.
    The couple moved to Idaho in 1947, and built a new home in Middleton.  Graydon was service manager at Hal Johnson Dodge- Plymouth Agency in Caldwell for several years.  They later owned and operated Hitchcock Auto Shop in Middleton for 15 years.
    Mr. Hitchcock was a former member of the Middleton United Methodist Church, and held offices in the church for 29 years.  He served on the City Council; the Middleton School Board; was master and steward of Middleton Grange #6 for several years; member of Pomona Grange and the Idaho State Grange; and was an honorary member of Future Farmers of America at Middleton High School.
    After retirement, the couple moved to Caldwell and became active members of the United Methodist Church; Caldwell Senior Center; and the AARP.
    Survivors include his wife, Lucille of Caldwell; a sister, Eunice Terry of Susanville, Calif.; three brothers, Irvin G. Hitchcock of Columbus, Kan., Robert E. Hitchcock of Oklahoma City, Okla., and David L. Hitchcock of Eureka Springs, Ark.; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents , two brothers and two sisters.
    Mr. Hitchcock was never happier than when traveling by auto on sight-seeing trips and visiting family and friends in various places.  He will be missed by all who knew him and loved him.
    The family requests no flowers.  Memorials may be made to a favorite charity.
    Friends may call today from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m, until noon at the Dakan Funeral Chapel in Caldwell.