Edwin “Dean” Hites Sr. (August 9th, 1936 – September 4th, 2024)
Devoted husband and father. Proud veteran, community volunteer, and entrepreneur.
Edwin was born in Toledo in 1936 to Gladys (Ruhl) and Irvin Hites. Edwin, a graduate of Macomber high school was known to his family and friends as Ed or Dean. 
He served his country in the Army and National Guard. While in the Army, he married Rose Marie Fox. Together they had six children and shared 68 years of marriage. 
He was an active member of the community, as well as a volunteer firefighter. He and his brothers built his family home in Perrysburg that he lived in for 20 years.   He was a professional butcher for nearly 30 years. Ed was an entrepreneurial spirit. He built a Marathon gas station and owned a grocery store in the LaGrinka neighborhood of Toledo. He was instrumental in the planning of the first Polish Festival in the St. Hedwig area of Lagrange St. He was a fan of the Detroit Tigers, Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Goaldiggers, and Ohio State Buckeyes Football. In June of 1984 he suffered a debilitating stroke that affected his eyesight and motor skills. Through time and rehabilitation, he went back to work as a custodian in an assisted living facility. He thrived on the friendships he made and the people he served.
Ed will be missed by his loving wife Rose Marie and their children Richard (Amy), James, Edwin Jr. (Kim), Teresa Drees (Richard) and Charles (Colleen). His grandchildren Beth (Donnie), Cheryl, Mikael, Andrew, Joseph (Lindsay), Renee (Bryan), Rachel, Alexia (Christopher), Matthew, Mark, Charles Jr., and Vivian. His 12 great grandchildren. His brother Larry. As well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his infant son Steven. Gladys and Irvin Hites. His siblings Barbara Roznoski, William, Allen “Lynn”. As well as his great grandson Christopher Jr. 
Visitation will be held at Wisniewski Funeral Home at 2426 N Reynolds Rd.,
Toledo, OH 43615 on Tuesday, September 10th from 4-7 pm. Additional visitation at St. Joseph Catholic Church 5373 Main Street, Sylvania, OH 43560 on Wednesday, September 11 beginning at 10am, followed by Mass beginning 10:30 am. A procession to Ottawa Hills Memorial Cemetery will immediately follow. 

The family would like to like to thank and acknowledge the exceptional care and professionalism of the staff members of both the Franciscan Care Center and Hospice of Northwest Ohio. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of these organizations.