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Osee Dann DeWitt

October 21, 2009

Osee Dann DeWitt II, 84, of Clarks Summit died Oct. 21, at Mid Valley Hospice.

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Born in Scranton in 1925, he was the son of the late Harry G. and Alice S. DeWitt. A lifelong pilot and veteran of World War II, he left his senior year of high school at age 17 to serve his country in the Army Air Corps, Pacific Theater, piloting a B-29 with the 504th Bomb Group. He became the youngest First Lieutenant on record at the age of 18, and earned the Purple Heart, the Asiatic Pacific Service, the American Campaign and the Victory medals. After his war service, he flew internationally as a navigator for Pan American World Airways, rounding out his career working for the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller at MacArthur Airport, L.I., N.Y. and Flight Service Manager at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Airport.

DeWitt was an avid sportsman, counting golf, tennis, fishing, skiing, hunting, horseback riding and extreme bocce among the many sports he mastered throughout his life. He was a natural and instinctive visual artist as well. His drawings, paintings and silver jewelry grace a number of collections. He was a passionate lover of both traditional and experimental music. His card playing and Yahtzee skills were the stuff of legend.

His wife was the former Mary H. DeWitt, who died in 1993. Surviving are a daughter, Winifred DeWitt Gantz, and her husband, Elliot, of Commack, N.Y.; a son, Osee Dann DeWitt III, and his wife, Deborah L. Peavey, of Holyoke, Ma.; two sisters, Dorothy Mackie, and her husband, Matthew Jr., of Clarks Summit, and Alyce Thomas of Rockville, Md. and four grandchildren, Grant Babis, Lauren Babis, Osee Dann DeWitt IV and Adriane DeWitt.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Dr. Selton Stevens, Daye “Robin” Stevens and Harry “Butch” DeWitt and a sister, Barbara Parker.

Arrangements by the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit.

A private burial at sea will be held at the convenience of the family.