July 14, 1939 | Sunnyside, Wa.
Parents:
Herbert Boone Chittick
Maude Ellen (George) Chittick
Marriage:
Carlene Freda (Gorman) Chittick: (4.18.1962 | Las Cruces, NM)
Children:
Sharla Louise Chittick (3.8.1966)
Denny Jeff Chittick (1.10.1968)
Shawna Kay Chittick (5.22.1970)
Quilene Marie Chittick (5.5.1974)
Earliest Linked Ancestor:
Father | Hugh Chittick (b1829)
Mother | Richard George (b1700)
Chittick Line:
Ireland -> United States
Direct, son of Herbert Boone Chittick
The Story
Eldon was born on July 14, 1939 in Sunnyside, Washington to Herbert Boone and Maude Ellen (George) Chittick.
At age 6, due to WW II, he moved to the Oregon coast to Portland, Marshfield, and Bandon, while his dad was in the Coast Guard, then to Coulee Damn, and on to Yakima, Washington. Eldon started school there, finishing the 1st through 3rd grades, before the family relocated to Toppenish, Wash., where he completed the 4th through 6th grades.
A change of careers for his father led to a move to Manchester, Wash., where he lived until he left the area at age 20 to go to University at New Mexico State. University. in Las Cruces, New. Mex.
During his years in Manchester, he pursued both music
and athletics as extra cirricular activities. His
musical prowess led him to playing the bari sax in
the stage/dance band, while his athletic skills led
to a nomination for all-state as a third baseman in
his successful senior year, leading the South Kitsap
High School team with a .456 batting average.
His focus academically was math/science, which became
his major at Olympic College in Bremerton, Wash. However,
after a year of Engineering classes, and continued
involvement in music (including stage, pep, marching,
and concert bands, plus a touring saxophone quartet),
Eldon chose to change directions, became involved
in
student/campus politics, and was elected A.S.B. President
for his Sophomore year, 1958-59.
With a reduced academic load, he also chose to play
baseball for the Olympic College team, and enjoyed
a successful
season playing second and third bases. He continued
his involvement in the music program, as well, including
a few money-making, small combo dance jobs on weekends.
After completing the second year of college, Eldon
was unsure what he wanted to do about the future,
so he
took a job as warehouse manager at Parks Furniture
store in Port Orchard as a day job. Then three nights
a week, he also worked pumping gas at Pritchard's
Shell gas station, while continuing to live at home.
He had developed a wanderlust , so set out to save
his money and began planning an adventure to Europe.
He
was briefly approached to play semi-pro baseball that
first summer, but, after a couple games, decided that
his goals did not include the effort (and perhaps
the talent) it would take to make a career out of
baseball. He contacted an old friend from college
and persuaded him to join the adventure.
After about 9 months, Eldon and friend took off across
the U.S. by thumb, catching rides as far as Chicago,
then a train to Philly for his friend to borrow some
money from an uncle. From there to New York by train
to jump a Norweigen lumber freighter for an 11(eleven)
day crossing of the Atlantic to Oslo. Another train
took them to Copenhagen, Denmark, to participate in
his older brother's wedding, (which had been inserted
into Eldon's itinerary long after his travel plans
had been set). Then they were off to Western Europe
for the remainder of their 3 month adventure to include
16 countries, at $1.50 each per day to live on. They
arrived home with 25 cents between them.
By this time, Eldon realized the need for education
to get ahead, so he contacted some of his college
friends, borrowed $50.00 from his parents, and caught
a ride to Las Cruces, N.Mex. to enroll at N.M.S.U.,
where he was offered a music scholarship. A "blind
luck" opportunity, because the school needed
a large
marching band to perform at half-time for the university's
nationally ranked football team who were on t.v. regularly.
Some favorable references from Olympic opened the
door, and his wanderlust made it sound made-to-order.
Picking a major was a challenge, but he'd taken a
psychology course that he'd enjoyed, and "the
rest".as they say."is history". Five
years later, a "chili pepper "bride beside
him, and many musical experiences behind him, including
playing behind Mel Torme', The Four Freshman, and
other names of the 50's and 60's, he emerged with
a Master's Degree in Psychology.
He and Carlene accepted an offer to take a job with
a consulting firm in Canada (more wanderlust), called
Lamond, Dewhurst and Assoc. But first, they took an
extended vacation to Europe in which they covered
many of the same countries (and more) that Eldon had
previously, but this time in the comfort of a rented
car.
They also were fortunate to be able to use the home
of a U.S. Army couple stationed in Germany, who were
special friends in college, as a home-base from which
they could venture out in all directions for days
at a time. Many fond memories still remain of that
trip, prior to the initiation of his career and the
life changing advent of the start of their family.
The Canadian experience included 3 years in Edmonton,
Alberta, and 3 years in Vancouver, B.C. Among the
special experiences during those 6 years were the
births of their first three children, Sharla, Denny
and Shawna. To this day, the kids enjoy dual citizenship.
During two of those years, Eldon taught a night class
at the U. of Alberta, consulted at a Home for Recovering
Alcoholics called the Jellenik House, and worked toward
hopefully completing his PhD. in Psychology. That
was not to be, however.
The flat economy in Canada and Eldon's dad's death
from cancer in 1970, led him and the family to decide
to relocate, taking a job as Chief Psychologist at
the Gateway Community Mental Health Center in Pocatello,
Idaho. They resided in Blackfoot, where their 4th
child, Quilene, was born.
After 4½ years and climbing the ladder to
Director of the clinic, Eldon realized that his concerns
about working under the frustrating bureaucracies
of the
state and federal governments had proven to be well
founded. He resigned and with two Professional associates,
started Interfaith Family Counseling
Services, Inc.
This company grew to include a state-wide network
of 5 offices at it's peak. With the encroachment of
the health insurance industry, however, which Eldon
describes as ".a slithering reptile that devours
the people it is licensed to protect", by the
time he retired, IFCS had just two offices remaining
in Coeur d'Alene and Boise. After launching the practice
in Southern Idaho for 2 years, Eldon and the family
relocated to CdA for the remaining 22 years before
retirement, where they still reside today.
The joy of parenting and marriage for him, he described,
was the endless activity of coaching, playing, and
helping organizations involved with sports, supporting
a wide variety of other activities such as music,
education, modeling, scouting, boating
and animal raising.
Eldon was also active in the community on several
boards, including Big Brothers, Compassionate Friends,
and Adoptions in Idaho. During the kids growing up
years, he was active in the local Methodist church
as a choir member and committee member in various
capacities.
He and Carlene co-chaired the high school senior's
all-night graduation parties on three occasions and
chaired one of the committees on the other . Then,
the pinnacle was the marriage of his kids , to which
he states proudly ."now I have four sons and
four daughters", and then the "icing on
the cake", the birth of his grandkids.
In retirement, the adventures continue today, with
trips to foreign countries, snowmobiling, white water
rafting, salt water kayaking, and helping grandkids
develop their talents in sports, music, academics,
etc. Currently, plans are afoot to purchase a 5th
wheel trailer to add to the comfort of traveling around
the country. Eldon claims that ."It doesn't get
much better than this !". As far as retirement
is concerned, he tells everyone that ."this is
the best job I've ever had.