Obituary of Daniel James Dewitt

Obituary – Daniel James DeWitt November 17, 1930—June 5, 2025 Born November 17, 1930, Daniel James DeWitt, and his young brother, Thomas Edgar DeWitt, came from the children of Dutch immigrants, some who still spoke their mother tongue as they settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Some were potato farmers; some were furniture craftsmen. But Daniel's father, James John DeWitt, was a printer. Not like we think of today, but he was the kind of man who came home every night with blued hands from placing old-fashioned, heavy steel type-casting letter blocks in rows of headings and sentences to set up a single page for print. It was meticulous, dirty, and time-consuming work that required patience and discipline. Each page was exhaustively proofed. And a single book might take a whole year to produce. The Great Depression began in 1929 and lasted ten years. Even though Grand Rapids would go on to become one of the great publishing centers of America, jobs were still scarce when Daniel graduated from Union High School in 1948. He had learned to play the trumpet, loved the "swing music" of the Big Band era, and dreamed of becoming a professional musician. But, while times remained challenging, Daniel's father packed up his family and moved across the country to Washington DC, taking a step down as an apprentice pressman for the Government Printing Office. Leaving everything he knew for the unknown, Daniel decided to go along. In Grand Rapids, Daniel was known as the only ten-year-old to be ticketed by police for going too fast on a bicycle, even passing the officer's squad cars in pursuit of fleeing criminals. Now, in Washington, Daniel soon became known as "DJ DeWitt," and quickly earned a reputation for getting things done. He joined the Virginia Army National Guard. Serving for eight years, he became a Master Seargent in record time, working with Air Defense, radar gunnery systems, and maintained the qualifications of "Marksman," "Expert," and "Sharpshooter" on 30 caliber M1 Carbines. Traits learned from his father, Daniel was methodical, highly disciplined, always giving attention to minute details and precise organization. In his office, his briefcase, automobile, or garage, everything had its proper place. Starting as a "Messenger Boy" for the Bell Telephone Company, earning $1.25 per hour, Daniel worked his way through Night School at George Washington University. Becoming known as "DJ DeWitt," he was soon made the Telephone Company's Director of Communications to the US State Department where he met a very petite, blond-haired, blue-eyed "New Englandah" named Marilyn Lillis Farr. They were soon married in 1955 and were together for 66 years. Dan and Marilyn had two children, Robert Winston DeWitt, otherwise known as "BaGyi Bob" of Golden Land Baptist Missions, and Carole Elaine Wendal, a pastor's wife and musician in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, until her early death at 35 years of age. An introvert by nature, he always credited Marilyn for bringing him out of his shell, especially on the dance floor. With her by his side, Daniel was regularly promoted, always achieving an "Exemplary" evaluation. Rising to sixth level management, he directed the company's Methods Staff, writing and publishing "how-to" manuals for the entire Bell Telephone System. Due to a series of accidents, the second half of Daniel's life was marked with excruciating arthritic neck and back pain. It slowed him down at times, but rarely stopped him. Surgeons in Philadelphia said that if they were to help him, they would have to filet him like a fish. He opted to live and work with the pain. When Marilyn DeWitt passed away in August of 2021, at nearly 101 years of age, Daniel was tired and sick. But being extremely patriotic and conservative, he stayed informed regarding politics, never missed a chance to vote, and contributed financially to insure that America would remain strong. During his last year, he lived with his son and daughter-in-law, Carolyn DeWitt, whom he adored as his own kin. Dan and Marilyn are survived, not only by Robert and Carolyn but, by four grandchildren: Amanda Ruter, Grace DeWitt, Matthew Wendal, Jeremey Wendal; as well as ten great grandchildren. Recognizing his gifts but sometimes frustrated with his obsessive attention to the smallest details, Daniel's boss once remarked, "When I ask you what time it is, I don't want you to tell me how to build a watch." But the same work ethic, and the traits that made his father a good printer, proved to make Daniel a great church bus driver, a deacon, a choir member, a soul winner, and a church treasurer. Humbling himself to God, Daniel James DeWitt became a born-again Christian in the summer of 1975, served the Lord, and helped to build five local churches. To spend time with Marilyn, who was ten years older, and to serve the Lord through his church, Daniel retired twelve years early. They loved America, and traveled to England, Hawaii, and points of Canada. But they always found their way back to their church home where his heart made him generous with his time and substance. When someone asked, "What do you think "Dan" is doing in Heaven?" His son answered, "He's probably keeping the books!"