William Easter DeWitt, Jr. formerly of Springfield and Hollister, Missouri, went to be with the Lord on March 12, 2013 at 98 years of age. He was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma April 22, 1914 to William and Nora DeWitt. He attended school in Tulsa, then Oklahoma A&M, graduating in 1938 with a degree in architectural engineering. While there he met Daphna Tilley - they were married in Tulsa February 13, 1937. He then worked for his father in the construction business and for the U.S. Engineers in St Louis, Missouri. In 1945 they moved back to Tulsa where he worked with his brother, Ted DeWitt until1954 when he moved to Springfield where he started the DeWitt-Newton Construction Company. After his partner Joe Newton passed away, the company name changed to DeWitt & Associates with Jerry Stiefvater as his partner in that business, which became a major construction business, building many buildings in Springfield and other cities.
After moving to Springfield from Tulsa, he was a member of Central Assembly of God church where he was deacon. He also served on the Board of Teen Challenge, Habitat for Humanity and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club for 50 years.
In 1955 he was instrumental in the formation of Evangel College and served on the Board for several years, as well as constructing some of the buildings.
In 1938 he earned his pilot''s license and started flying airplanes owning several, one of which was a beautiful Piper Aztec, a six passenger twin-engine plan which he used in business negotiations, several construction projects, and many personal trips. He retired in 1986 from the construction business, but continued to fly airplanes until he was 77 years old.
After his wife Daphna passed away in September, 2005, he married Jean Morris on May 19, 2007 and moved to a beautiful lake- front home in Hollister, Missouri, overlooking Table Rock Lake. He joined the First Presbyterian Church in Branson in 2008.
He is preceded in death by his father and mother William and Nora DeWitt Sr., his wife Daphna, and two brothers, Don and Ted DeWitt.
He is survived by his wife Jean, of Hollister, Missouri, two daughters: Joan Farnam of Fort Smith, Arkansas and Kathy Coffman of Marshfield, Missouri, and six grandchildren: Steve Farnam of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Terry Farnam of Springfield, Missouri, Danny Webb of Wichita, Kansas, Don Webb of Halltown, Missouri, Doug Webb of Springfield, Missouri, Darin Coffman of Rogersville, Missouri, 16 great grand children, and several great great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013 in Klingner-Cope at White Chapel, 5234 W State Highway EE, Springfield, MO 65802. A visitation will be held one hour prior to service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Evangel University, 1111 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802.