Ted Sitton

Charles Ted Sitton passed away Friday, April 15, 2016 in Abilene, Texas. A private family burial will be held on Monday, April 18, 2016, followed by a memorial service at 1:30 p.m. at University Church of Christ. Ted’s grandsons, Colby Freeman and Kirby Freeman, will officiate the service. Arrangements are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap, Abilene. Ted was born in Stamford, Texas on January 30, 1932, one of six children, to Pat and Lillian Sitton. Ted met the love of his life, Gloria Pace when they were in the 3rd grade. They were married on July 15, 1951 and were happily married for 62 years. Through his many years as a football and track coach, Ted coached at Graham High School, Abilene High School and Abilene Christian University. Known to most as Coach Sitton, to his family he was lovingly known as Papaw. If you played football or ran track with Ted or for Coach Sitton, you knew he loved you. From his high school days playing as a Stamford Bulldog to ending up coaching as an ACU Wildcat, you knew he was something special. As special as he was as a coach and player, he was that much greater as a husband, dad, brother, friend and Papaw to his family and friends. He was truly a special man and will be missed by us all. Besides his love for football he loved the outdoors and was able to spend a lot of quality time with his family and friends at Stamford Lake and Brownwood Lake or hunting big bucks in Shackelford County. Survivors include his son, Gary Sitton and wife Gwen, his daughter, Cara Sue Sitton, all from Abilene, and his daughter, Jani Freeman and husband Steve from Brownwood. His grandchildren are Kellie Sherwood and husband Austin, from Albany, Texas, Abbey Sitton from Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, Lindsey Sitton from College Station, Texas, Colby Freeman and wife Courtney from Lantana, Texas, Kelsi Firth and husband Chad from Brownwood, Texas, and Kirby Freeman and wife Andrea from Waco, Texas. His great grandchildren are Averie, Gracie, Kennadie, and Jersie Freeman from Lantana, Texas, and Ady and Wyatt Firth from Brownwood, Texas. Survivors also include his brother Phil Sitton and wife Pat of Waco, Texas; sisters Patsy Bohannon of Lake Forest, California, Carolyn Coggin of Andrews, Texas, and Jeanie Williams of Tomball, Texas; his brother-in-law Gene Hickey of San Antonio, Texas; and sister-in-law Lois Pace of Laurel, Mississippi. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Ted was preceded in death by his son, Chuck Sitton; his wife, Gloria Sitton; a sister, Peggy Hickey; and brothers-in-law, Charles Williams and Roy Pace. Memorials may be made in honor of Ted Sitton to the Chuck Sitton Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund, Abilene Christian University, Box 29132, Abilene, TX 79699-9132.