DeWitte

By Jim.

Our trip is now paused, in tribute to a wonderful man and a tower of strength and character in our family.

DeWitte Cross, my stepfather and beloved husband of my mother for the past 20 years, passed away over the weekend.  Ginny and I are flying to Alabama Wednesday for a memorial service on Friday.

DeWitte was a Southern Gentleman.

He was unfailingly polite and courtly to everyone. He had a radiant smile, which was the usual expression on his face.  He had a resonant baritone voice and a splendid Southern accent.  His demeanor was warm and dignified.

He was a lifelong student.  Even in his 90s, he researched and made presentations to his fellow residents at Galleria Woods, their assisted living facility, about issues such as identity theft and scammers who prey on the elderly.  A natural leader, he was elected repeatedly by his peers to represent them in matters related to the governance and operation of the facility where they lived.

He had a passion for history (especially the Civil War) and was a wonderful storyteller.  He was a modest man who downplayed his military service in World War II (barely into his 20s, he was a navigation instructor for the Army Air Corps) and Korea.  He dreamed of being a doctor or lawyer, but instead became a successful entrepreneur and businessman in Birmingham and Atlanta.  His two children lived his dream – both became doctors.

DeWitte loved my mother and took care of her in their golden years.  They met in 1996 and married two years later. My mother adored him and he always made it clear that the feeling was mutual.  He was devoted to her.  Barely six months ago, when Mom was hospitalized, he spent all of his waking hours with her, even though it meant him driving (at age 94) several miles to and from her bedside.  As illness overtook him, his focus was still as much on her well-being as it was on his own.

Some would say DeWitte was a Gone With The Wind-like character – someone from a bygone era.  But the core traits he epitomized are timeless and represent the best of humankind – character, dignity, intelligence and genuine love for the people in his life.

I have respected DeWitte Cross almost as much as I have loved him.  He will forever be remembered as a wonderful man who lived life well.