Mr. J.W. DeWitt, 85, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, in Kingwood, Texas, on May 14, 2016, after a long illness. He was born in Marksville, Louisiana, on September 1, 1930, to Fred Cleveland DeWitt and Gladys Beauboeuf DeWitt.

J.W.’s paternal family line came from the Winn & Grant Parishes, near Verda, Louisiana, in the late 1860’s. The William Lafayette DeWitt Family grew and prospered and later moved to the Rapides Parish area near Poland and Alexandria, Louisiana.

J.W. was raised in Pt. Arthur, Texas, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1950.  In the 1940’s he was part owner, with his father and brother, of DeWitt & Sons Fan Company. He was married to Loyce Plessala of Loreauville, Louisiana, from 1950 to 1967,and they raised five children together in Groves, Texas: Van Cleveland DeWitt (wife Kathy), Lynda Jane DeWitt Kalantzakis (husband Leo-deceased),  Mark Keith DeWitt (wife Theresa), Debbie Rose DeWitt Hanna (husband Reagan), and Gaye Marie DeWitt Hablinski (husband Craig).

Loyce and J.W. started the DeWitt Heating & Air Conditioning Company on 39th Street in Groves, Texas, in 1952.  The company was sold in 1987. This HVAC business was well known for its efficient design, installation and service in the residential, commercial, and industrial segments of the Southeast Texas market.

In the late 1960’s, J.W. opened additional HVAC offices with his brother, Wallace Dean DeWitt(Old Army Class of ‘59 at Texas A&M), in Beaumont and Houston. He was also an inventor.  In September, 1992, he was issued a U.S. Patent for his unique design of a specialized air conditioning system.

J.W. was not only an accomplished HVAC designer and businessman, he was an avid sportsman, conservationist, woodworker, gardener and rancher. He fished throughout his life in the Gulf of Mexico and in Sabine Lake; he hunted big game and migratory birds in Wyoming, Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada.  He enjoyed sharing the love of these outdoor sports with his family and friends.

In addition, J.W. was a great lover of country and western music.  He even wrote several songs which were recorded by a local artist.

In the late 1960’s, he married Linda Register Blackwell and together they raised three children; Tiffany Ruth Blackwell, Chad Edward Blackwell (deceased) and Stacy Sue DeWitt.

J.W. DeWitt was predeceased by his brothers Van Curtis DeWitt and Wallace Dean DeWitt; also his parents, Fred Cleveland DeWitt and Gladys Beauboeuf DeWitt Reed; and his step-son, Chad Edward Blackwell and son-in-law, Spiros Leo Kalantzakis.

J.W. is survived by a large and loving family that includes: seven (7) children who reside in Southeast Texas, eighteen (18) grandchildren, one great grandchild and two (2) elderly aunts living in the Poland/Alexandria area of Louisiana, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Mississippi and Georgia.

The family would like to thank Ms. Rhonda Livingston for her loving care of Mr. DeWitt over the past several years.

A 3 PM Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at Clayton-Thompson Funeral Home located at 5200 39^th Street in Groves, Texas, with a gathering of family and friends from 2 PMuntil service time. Everyone is invited to a reception following the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in J.W. DeWitt’s name to the Coastal Conservation Association of Texas, Marine Habitat Fund (www.CCA.org).  For more information, please see the Clayton-Thompson website:  www.claytonthompson.com.