John Gammill DeWitt

STOW - In the early afternoon of Wednesday, February 11, 2026, John Gammill DeWitt, 91, passed peacefully away with family by his side.

Born May 8, 1934, in Westerville, Ohio, to Harold and Opal DeWitt, John grew up there and attended Westerville High School, where he met the love of his life, Nancy Cornell. John and Nancy were married on November 13, 1952, in Jefferson City, Missouri, the day after her 18th birthday. They were married for 72 years, until her passing February 28, 2025.

During his time at Westerville High School, John was a standout pitcher for the Wildcat baseball team, recording a “no hitter” against Worthington in his senior year. Later, while attending the Ohio State University, his baseball career continued when he played American Legion ball in Columbus with several future major league players. It was there that he was offered a contract with the Detroit Tigers organization, but being married with a family, he could not afford to accept.

After school and baseball, John was hired as an account executive at The Ohio Company in Columbus. In 1961, he was transferred to the company’s Akron office. John and Nancy, with their four children, settled in Kent, Ohio, and it was there that they raised their family. Soon after transferring to Akron, John was hired by McDonald and Company, where he had a mostly institutional business, focusing on the many banks in the region. He quickly became the youngest associate at the time to be made a partner of the firm. He spent the remainder of his career at McDonald retiring shortly before the company merged with KeyCorp, in 1998.

In retirement, as a member of the Portage Country Club, Sharon Golf Club, Twin Lakes Country Club, Alden Pines Country Club, and the Rockwell Springs Trout Club, John was able to fully enjoy his love of golf and fishing. Some of his best memories were made with his buddies on the golf course, or casting lines on the water.

He leaves behind his children, Jack (Jill) of Bath Twp., Dan of Ft. Myers, FL, Jim of Gainesville, FL, and Amy McCarthy (Rob) of Stow; grandchildren, John (Tricia) of Westerville, Daniel (Joe Hilty) of Westerville, Chloe Bruin (Dan) of New Albany, Sarah Dillon (Billy) of Durham, NC, Ellyn Nunn (Tyler) of Cincinnati, Mollie McCarthy of Richmond, VA, and Brett DeWitt, as well as great-grandchildren, Lilly, Annabelle, Emmie, and Jack DeWitt, Maggie and Ellie Hilty-DeWitt, Charlie Bruin, Shea and Will Dillon, as well as three more great-grandchildren, which are due later this summer.

John was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who could always be counted on for an honest opinion. He was greatly loved. May the ones who are no longer with us light the path before us.

A private interment will be held on a date to be determined by the family.

Special thanks to the caring staff at Traditions Health and Hudson Grande.

Memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of Summit County, 752 West Portage Trail, Akron, Ohio 44313.