John Gifford Witt

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John Gifford Witt

of New Blaine, AR

August 10, 1943 - November 18, 2015

Captain John Gifford Witt (BHS-61), 72, of New Blaine, Arkansas, died Nov. 18, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, after a valiant fight against lung cancer. His wife and children were at his side.

John was born Aug. 10, 1943, in New Cristobal, Canal Zone, Panama, Republic of Panama. At age 2, his parent left the Canal Zone to try their hand in farming in New Blaine, Arkansas. John attended the New Blaine Elementary School & Paris High School till the middle of his Junior year. John helped his father work the fields on tractors, and was trusted to work by himself by the age of seven. He became a State Tractor Driving Champaign, having to compete in the older age class divisions as he was ''too skilled'' to compete with others in his own young age division. After many hard years and through the draught of the 1950s, his parent returned to again work for the Panama Canal Company when John was 16. John attended Balboa High School in the Canal Zone, where he met the love of his life, and future wife, Eula, a fellow student. John left the Canal Zone after High School graduation to complete his education at the St. Louis, Missouri Trade School. He then returned to the Canal Zone and was able to obtain a 4-year apprenticeship with the Panama Canal Company, as an Engineman, Hoisting and Portable Heavy Equipment Operator, with the Gamboa Dredging Diving. He completed his apprenticeship in 3 years, becoming a Journeyman, and worked for many years with the Dredging Diving, moving up through various positions starting as a Dredge Mate, to Chief of Floating Cranes. Transferring to the Marine Division in 1978, as a Tug Captain, he advanced to the Tug Training Officer, and finally retiring as a Senior Ships Pilot. John was a flying enthusiast and was instrumental in the building of the Gamboa airfield for small aircrafts, by doing all the field dozer work needed. He enjoyed using the airfield while owning two aircrafts, one of which he totally restored in the garage of their Gamboa family house. It was quite a sight to see John pulling the body of his plane behind his pick-up, thru the streets of Gamboa. He also was a big drag strip racing fan. He built two drag strip racing cars, and could be found racing them on most work-free week-ends, at the old Rio Hato, Panama, abandoned WWII military airstrip. He was a 33rd Degree Mason with the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemason Lodge in the Canal Zone. He was also a proud Life Member of the National Rifle Association. Upon his retirement in 1995 from the Panama Canal Commission (name changed due to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 between the United States and the Republic of Panama), he and his wife settled in Florida, and enjoyed traveling across the United States in their RV. Moving back to his boyhood home, New Blaine, Arkansas, in 2000, he started the J&E Bulldozer and J&E Stump Grinding Companies to keep busy. John loved his family, working outdoors, his old tractors, shooting, flying, his coffee buddies, and his beloved dogs that he and his wife rescued off the streets.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray S. and Pauline Allaire Witt, and one sister, Rebecca M.Witt Leschner.

John is survived by his wife of 51 years, Eula (Bryan, BHS-64) Witt of the home, his Son, Ray H. Witt (BHS-83), Daughter-In-Law, Ivy, and Granddaughter, Erin, from California; and his daughter, Evonne (Cissie) L. Witt (BHS-84) and grandson, Colin McPherson, of New Blaine, Arkansas, and His Sister, Paula Witt Adams, of Georgia, three nieces and spouses, and three great nieces and 2 great nephews.

A family conducted memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are by the Roller Funeral Home of Paris, online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/paris

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4 Condolence(s)
Bob & Belva Maddox
Charlotte, NC
Liked
Monday, November 23, 2015

God rest you Johnny. You were a credit to all who knew you.

Bob & Belva

Paula
Locust Grove, GA
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Saturday, November 21, 2015

Bud, it's Sis. I hope that you know how much I love you. This last year was hard for us and we had our differences but I never stopped loving you. You are my brother and there has never been a better brother on the face of this earth. I will miss you every day of my life. There is peace in knowing you are with Mom, Dad, and Becky. I pray that someday I will get to be with you guys. I miss you so much. What am I supposed to do on Sundays when the phone doesn't ring and I hear "Hey Sis, it's Bub?" Love your sister.

RANDY DEAKINS
, FL
Liked
Friday, November 20, 2015

I always admired John..we did a lot of flying..and got Gamboa air field going...Dug a lot out of rock out of the panama canal..you diging and me kepping the steam up..this was to make for you later yesrs tsking ships thu..also remember rideing with you in your 18 wheeler in mathas tex...loved you..my prarers are with eula and ray and sissy...RD

john Woodson
dardanelle,
Liked
Wednesday, November 18, 2015

i loved to hear his opinion on the radio never got to meet him but i know he was a great American and a good man RIP wise man God be with the family