In Memoriam: 1940s Rumson High Grad, Bill Burritt Litts, 91

Rumson High School (now RFH) graduate William “Bill” Burritt Litts, of Ocean Township, passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 22. He was 91.

Bill Burritt Litts
Photo/family via John E. Day Funeral Home

“Bill enjoyed numerous hobbies during his lifetime. He was an accomplished marksman and a member of the Monmouth County Rifle and Pistol Club. He was an outdoorsman and spent time fishing, hunting, camping in the mountains, and traveling with Helen. Bill attended the First United Methodist Church in Oakhurst. He was an avid reader of the Bible and took pleasure in sharing his knowledge with others. Bill enjoyed spending time with his family, growing his plants and flowers and watching military movies.”

Loved ones of Bill Burritt Litts in his obituary

Born in Plainfield, NJ on September 5, 1930, Bill was the son of Harry T. Litts Sr. and Lucinda Wood.

Bill graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven High School and attended Monmouth University. He served in the Army National Guard as a Second Lieutenant and a Tank Commander. Bill was employed as a Telecommunications Specialist, Office Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems for the U.S. Army at Fort Monmouth.

Bill developed a Frequency Prediction Method and Computer Software in 1963 for the Signal Radio Propagation Agency, which was beyond the state of the art at that time. He also worked on the First Satellite Communications link between Washington and USSR from 1974-1976.

Bill was preceded in death by: his wife, Helen Swenson, to whom he was married for 63 years; and his brothers, Donald and Harry T. Litts Jr.

He is survived by: his loving children and their spouses, Lorraine E. Rosato and Gary of Jackson; Dale A. Heird, of York, PA, and Alan W. Litts and Michele of Medina, MN; eight grandchildren, Kimberly, William, Jonathan, Andrew, Grace, Chloe, Alexander and Nathaniel; and three great grandchildren, Brantly, Christian and Adely; a sister-in-law, Doris Moraller; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, at John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank, with a funeral service at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Shriners and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via John E. Day Funeral Home