Honorable Gavin D. Litwiller

Honorable Gavin D. Litwiller lived a full life with countless accomplishments and adventures before peacefully passing away December 28, 2023 with his loving wife of 68 years by his side. Born 7/6/35 in Chicago, IL, Gavin was raised in Peoria, IL by adopted parents Dr. Otto B. and Imogene Litwiller. He graduated high school from New Mexico Military Institute and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree of Political Science from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He served in the U.S. Army infantry as First Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Company Commander. He was stationed in Schweinfurt, West Germany his last 4 years of active duty. Upon returning to the U.S., he pursued his law degree from University of Denver College of Law. He then opened a private law practice in Rifle, CO in 1966. One year later he was elected County Court Judge, an office he held for five years while he continued to practice law. He was appointed to the district court bench by Governor Love in 1972. In 1980 he was appointed chief judge and water judge of the 9th Judicial District. He retired in 1991 as the second-most senior judge in the state. During his tenure as Chief Judge, he was known for his professional demeanor on and off the bench. He guided the district through the oil shale boom of the 80’s and is credited with planning the building of three new court facilities in Rifle, Rangely and Glenwood Springs as well as creating remodels of the court facilities in Aspen and Meeker. He implemented many innovations and firsts in rural court management, including designing courtrooms technologically designed with built-in telephone, video and computer access to expedite case processing. Under his administration, the district was the first in the U.S. to accept case filings by facsimile transmission with credit card payments and the first rural court in CO to computerize case processing and jury management. Gavin was a member of the District Court Judge Association, a former president to the Council of Juvenile Court Judges and a member of the Multi-District Litigation Panel. He was an ex-officio clerk of court in Rifle and supervised everything from a one-person office in Rifle to the nearly 50 employees who worked for the 9th Judicial District at that time. Gavin was a member of the Freemasons, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Mohammed Shriners International, having been Grand Senior Steward in Germany and Grand Junior Steward in Colorado. During a Christmas holiday in 1953 is where Gavin met the love of his life, Sharyn. They were married in 1955 and raised 4 children. Upon retiring, Gavin and Sharyn, moved to Sarasota, FL where he spent his time sailing and volunteering at the Mote Marine Laboratory. They enjoyed traveling and visited 49 of the states. They crossed the Atlantic from Florida to the Mediterranean Sea; they took a cruise ship around south America with call at the Galapagos Islands, a ship to the French Polynesian and another up the East Cost to Iceland. They also took riverboats up the Mississippi River and the Danube River. He loved being on the water and enrolled in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 82 in 1993. He became Flotilla Commander by 1994. He was always a leader in whatever endeavor he undertook. He stepped down as Commander but remained active in the Auxiliary until his passing as it was his passion. He was very proud to be in the Coast Guard and will be laid to rest in his uniform. He loved his family more than anything and was proud of all his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments. He will be dearly missed for his smile, his strength and encouragement and his undying love for all his family. He was preceded in death by a son, Daniel “Danny” Bryan Litwiller; daughter-in-law, Peggy Litwiller; son-in-law, Vance Gabossi. Gavin is survived by his wife, Sharyn; son, Randy Litwiller; daughters, Laurie Litwiller and Linda Gabossi; 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. An honorary service will be held at 11 am January 18th at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3131 61st St. Sarasota, FL 34243, followed by a military burial at 2 pm at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 St. Rd. 72, Sarasota, FL 34241.

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Honorable Gavin D. Litwiller

July 6, 1935 - December 28, 2023