Paul deWitt

Paul deWitt VIRGINIA BEACH - Paul deWitt, 97, died Nov. 27, 2008. A resident of Virginia Beach for most of his life, he and his wife Naomi moved to Greenville, N.C., in 2003 when their health began to decline. Paul was born June 5, 1911, in Virginia Beach, the ninth of 10 children of the late Cornelius and Cécile Amélie Mottu deWitt. His family home, deWitt Cottage, built in 1895, was the first brick cottage on the oceanfront, the last original one remaining and is on the Virginia Landmarks Register. It is now home to the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum and the Back Bay Wildfowl Guild. Paul graduated in 1929 from Maury High School in Norfolk, having missed only one day in four years despite a daily round-trip commute of 35 miles by light rail and trolley, and attended Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1933. He served in World War II as a first lieutenant in the 45th Division Thunderbirds, 157th Infantry Regiment, and fought in the Allied Invasion at Anzio Beachhead, Italy, in January 1944 and in the breakout battle for Rome in May, marching with the liberation forces into Rome June 4, 1944. Following his honorable discharge from the Army in 1946, Paul and Naomi built the Blue Water Apartments in Virginia Beach and operated them for 48 years. He was employed by Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company for 43 years and received national recognition as top sales representative. He was a member of Galilee Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach and in his mature years, served as an usher for Sunday services. He was a regular attendee of the weekly Men's Prayer Breakfast at Galilee, served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, and was a charter member and past secretary of the Virginia Beach-Combers Kiwanis Club. He was also a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Virginia Beach Post. Paul was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Naomi Harrell deWitt, March 9, 2006, and by all nine of his siblings: sisters Cécile Amélie deWitt Hastie, Elizabeth Mottu deWitt, Julia Coppée deWitt, Harriet Brewerton deWitt, Katrine vanVliet deWitt and Caroline Knight deWitt Woodley; and brothers Cornelius deWitt Jr., John deWitt and Peter deWitt. He is survived by a son, Paul deWitt Jr. of Alexandria, Va.; daughters, Paula Brewerton deWitt of Virginia Beach and Martha Fleming deWitt of Greenville, N.C.; and granddaughter, Bonnie Grace deWitt, also of Greenville. Arrangements are private. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery with military honors.