Richard Seymour DeWitt (2007)

BURR, CHAPMAN, DEWITT, LENTH, MITCHELL, SMITH

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 1/11/2007 at 21:07:56

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, January 10, 2007

RICHARD DeWITT, Indianola

Richard S. DeWitt, 88, formerly of Winterset, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at The Village in Indianola.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the First United Presbyterian Church in Winterset. Burial was held in the Winterset Cemetery in Winterset. Memorials may be directed to The Winterset Community Educational Foundation, the First United Presbyterian Church in Winterset or the Indianola Public Library in Indianola.

The son of David S. and Minnie M. (Mitchell) DeWitt, Richard was born on Nov. 30, 1918, in Madison County. He graduated from Patterson High School in 1936 and Cornell College in 1940. He went on to serve in the Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. Richard attained the rank of Major. His marriage to Mary Elizabeth Smith took place on Dec. 26, 1942, in San Antonio, Texas. He was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church in Winterset, a charter member of the Winterset Kiwanis Club, and a founding member of the Winterset Flying Club. He was instrumental in establishing the Winterset Airport.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Steven; a brother, Rodney DeWitt; and three sisters, Ruth DeWitt, Louise Burr and Alice Chapman.

He is survived by his wife, Mary of Indianola; a son, Donald DeWitt of Winterset; a daughter, Jane DeWitt; and two step-grandchildren.

Arrangements were handled by Ochiltree Funeral Service and Aftercare in Winterset.
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The Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
Monday, January 08, 2007
Page 7, Column 4

RICHARD S. DEWITT

Indianola and formerly of Winterset.

Richard S. DeWitt, 88, of Indianola and formerly of Winterset, died Saturday, January 6, 2007, at the Village in Indianola.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m., Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at the First United Presbyterian Church, Winterset. A visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m., Monday, January 8, 2007 at Ochiltree Funeral Service; where family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in the Winterset Cemetery, Winterset.

Memorials may be directed to The Winterset Community Educational Foundation, the First United Presbyterian Church, Winterset and the Indianola Public Library, Indianola.

Richard was born November 30, 1918 in Madison County, Iowa, the son of David S. and Minnie M. (Mitchell) DeWitt. He graduated from Patterson High School in 1936 and then attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon where he graduated in 1940. Richard went on to serve in the Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. During this time he piloted B17’s and B29’s, completing 32 missions over the Hump. The Hump was the name given by Allied pilots to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains over which they flew from India to China to resupply American and Chinese Forces. Richard also piloted missions over Central America and the Central Pacific and attained the rank of Major. His marriage to Mary Elizabeth Smith took place on December 26, 1942 in San Antonio, Texas.

Following his discharge from the military, Richard began work with the general contractor, Vawter Construction Company in West Des Moines. He worked with them from 1945 until he retired as Vice President of Vawter and Walter in 1988. In 1953 he and his family moved to the DeWitt Family Farm near Winterset, where he farmed and raised registered Herefords. Richard and Mary moved to the village in Indianola in 1991.

Richard was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church, Winterset where he served as an Elder, Sunday School Teacher and organist. He served on the school boards of both Patterson and Winterset for a total of 14 years and was instrumental in the consolidation of these schools. He was also a Charter Member of the Winterset Kiwanis Club in 1960 and he served as the club’s president as well as being named Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis’ District 11. He also was a founding member of the Winterset Flying Club and was instrumental in establishing the Winterset Airport in Madison County.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary of Indianola; a son, Donald DeWitt of Winterset; a daughter, Jane DeWitt and husband, Russ Lenth of Iowa City and Des Moines; two step-grandchildren, Kevin and Brian Lenth.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Steven Richard; a brother, Rodney DeWitt and three sisters, Ruth DeWitt, Louise Burr and Alice Chapman.
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Coordinator's note: Middle name taken from Madison County Birth record.

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