Arthur Wayne Dewitt

ARTHUR WAYNE DEWITT June 23, 1928 ~ December 26, 2017 Arthur Wayne DeWitt was born in Moscow, Idaho, on June 23, 1928 to Leo and Viola DeWitt. He was one of four children. He passed away December 26, 2017, at home after his morning walk along the Old Evergreen Highway, a walk he had done almost every day for the past 33 years. Wayne married his high school sweetheart, Kay Frazier on December 29, 1948, in Moscow, Idaho. Kay worked while Wayne earned a Civil Engineering degree at the University of Idaho. After two years in the Marine Corp as a First Lieutenant, he began his career in construction in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; then on to Atlanta, Georgia; followed by Portland Oregon; finally landing permanently in Vancouver, Washington, with his family in 1966. In 1979 at the age of 51, with the blessings and help from Kay, Wayne started his own heavy construction company, DeWitt Construction. He retired from there in 1997 but still never lost the love for it. He quite often made his way out to job sites and the office. In 2013, Wayne was inducted into the University of Idaho's Academy of Engineering hall of fame. Wayne loved watching his kids and grandkids play sports. He spent plenty of hours in a baseball grandstand or standing on the soccer sideline, basketball games and tennis matches. Wayne had a generous spirit and was always willing to help others with any type of project. Working on his seven acres and tinkering with equipment kept Wayne busy. Come spring, you could often find him in the garden planting corn or chasing rabbits away. If he wasn't tending honey bee hives, he might have been on a golf course with his kids, Shelly and Ty, or with his grandkids. In the winter, Wayne was snow skiing until the age of 72. Whatever he might have been doing, Wayne kept his family close and lived the values he taught. He was deeply loved, giving forth to all family and friends. Wayne leaves behind his daughter, Shelly Speyer (Greg); son, Tyler DeWitt (Teri); five grandsons: Mike Speyer (Pam), Steve Speyer (Hannah), Chase DeWitt (Bethany) Tal DeWitt, Garett Speyer; and three great-grandchildren. The good lord has received a passionate and loving man, who will be missed deeply. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kay DeWitt (September 2016). Funeral Services will be January 3, 2018, at 10:30 at the First United Methodist Church, Vancouver, Washington. Please sign his guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

Arthur Wayne Dewitt

June 23, 1928 - December 26, 2017