DeWitt Wayne Maxwell
DeWitt Wayne Maxwell, 86, of Slippery Rock passed away on Thursday.
He was born May 4, 1932, in New Castle.
DeWitt graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1950 and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War from 1950 until 1954 on the aircraft carrier USS Boxer CVA-21 as an aviation boatswain's mate 3rd class.
In 1956, DeWitt married Ella (Dollman) Maxwell in Slippery Rock.
After more than 35 years of employment, DeWitt retired from H.W. Cooper and Sons.
During his youth, DeWitt enjoyed and excelled in sports.
He spent many hours building lawn racing tractors and other racers with his sons. In 1988, DeWitt was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as a participating member of a team who built a lawn mower that was driven across the United States promoting world peace.
DeWitt was a Civil War enthusiast inspired by his great-great-uncle, Brigadier General Norman J. Maxwell, who served in Company E of the 100th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, known as “The Roundheads.”
He was also a life-long Pittsburgh sports fan, and deer hunting with his family was an annual tradition.
The accomplishments of his children and grandchildren brought him immense pride and joy.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 62 years, Ella; a brother, Ed (Arlene) Maxwell of Pasco, Wash.; a sister, Janet (Russ) McNees of Latrobe; five children, Carolyn (Jim) Colosimo of Slippery Rock, Patricia (David) Frank of Avon Lake, Ohio, Michael (Patricia) Maxwell of Winchester, Va., Nancy (Steve) Eckert of Leander, Texas, and Mark (Dargely) Maxwell of Woodbridge, Va.
He will be forever loved by his nine grandchildren, Nichole (Greg) Kingston, Christopher (Barb) Montgomery, Cassandra (Sam) Gibson, Mitchell (Erika) Eckert, Jordan (Melanie) Frank, Jamie Eckert, Michaella Frank, Madison Maxwell and Isabella Maxwell; and eight great-grandchildren, Grant and Charlotte Kingston, Maxwell Gibson, Bentley, Alexis and Trayce Eckert, and Sadie and Ella Montgomery.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph DeWitt Maxwell and Genevieve Leila Martin Maxwell; his brother, George Norman Maxwell; and his sister, Evelyn Mae Paden.
MAXWELL — The family of DeWitt Wayne Maxwell, who died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with the Rev. Jeff Curtis, pastor of the Highland Presbyterian Church presiding.Interment will be in Slippery Rock Cemetery, Butler County where full military honors will be observed.Memorial contributions may be given to the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 117 Slippery Rock, or the Slippery Rock Community Library, PO Box 25, Slippery Rock, PA.
