Gary DeWitt

April 20, 1952 - December 5, 2019

Gary DeWitt, 67, of Oskaloosa passed away, Thursday, December 5, 2019, at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia after a brief battle with heart disease. Gary Dean DeWitt, son of Cleo Franklin and Velma Jean (Christophel) DeWitt, was born April 20, 1952, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was a 1970 graduate of Oskaloosa High School and worked for a brief time at Pella Corp. before he was drafted into the military. He began his active duty service on May 11, 1972, when he attended CS “A” school in San Diego, California. Throughout his naval career, Gary serviced in Exmouth, Western Australia; Alameda, California; Meridian, Mississippi; Mayport, Florida; Yokosuka, Japan; Washington, DC; and Norfolk, Virginia and aboard the USS Hancock, the USS Oriskany, the USS Paul, the USS Midway, the USS Cochrane, the USS Moosbrugger and the USS Guam. He retired as a Mess Management Specialist Master Chief in 1998. He was awarded numerous accolades including the Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), the Combat Action Ribbon and various campaign awards. After retirement from the Navy, Gary settled in Virginia Beach, Virginia with his family. He served in the Merchant Marines for five years after his naval career, retiring a second time in 2004. In his free time, he enjoyed watching the Washington Redskins football and all things NASCAR. His family includes his wife, Myrna if Virginia Beach, Virginia; his sons: Scott (Shari) DeWitt and James (Joy) DeWitt both of Wheatland, Wyoming; his daughter, Christina Ramirez of Virginia Beach, VA; five grandchildren; a sister, Bonnie Richards of Oskaloosa, and a brother, Dennis DeWitt also of Oskaloosa. In addition to his parents, Gary was preceded in death by two sisters: Cindy DeWitt and Tammy Hootman. As was his wish, Gary’s body will be cremated, and his ashes will be scattered at sea.