William J. Hewitt

William Junior Hewitt, age 82, of New Philadelphia, died Tuesday, September 15, 2009, in Union Hospital at Dover. A son of the late Robert and Edna (Hostetler) Hewitt, Bill was born at New Philadelphia on January 16, 1927.Early in life, Bill was an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. Following graduation from New Philadelphia High School in 1944, Bill went on to enlist with the United States Army where he would serve state-side during the end of World War II and the Korean War. During his tours of duty he was called upon to serve at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Abilene, Texas.On April 18, 1954, Bill married the love of his life and wife of 55 years, the former Dorothy Crites. Together the couple would rear three children. Throughout their years together Bill and Dorothy enjoyed driving cross country to see the sights of our nation. However, a trip to St. Thomas Island, for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary would prove to be one of the most memorable for the couple.Professionally Bill would spend twenty-six years as an employee of the former Warner & Swasey and later Gradall Company, where he was charged with the task of inventory control. It was during that time; Bill earned his nickname, “Bulldog”, which came about as a result from a former boss who was impressed by his ever vigilant search for missing or misplaced inventory throughout the plant.When not working or traveling, Bill could be found at home working on one of his many electrical projects. In fact, he was proud of his accomplishment of wiring his whole house with stereo speakers, creating one of the first in-home audio systems. He also enjoyed working alongside Dorothy during their many home improvement projects throughout the years.Socially, Bill enjoyed the fellowship of those he befriended through his longtime involvement with the New Philadelphia Elks B.P.O.E. and through his lifetime membership of the Kentucky Lodge of the F&A.M. Additionally Bill was fond of History and enjoyed reading and retaining both fictional and non fictional historical facts. However, Bill had his own historical fact being that as a young man he had taken flying lessons with the same instructor as John Glenn in Harry-Clever Field at New Philadelphia.In addition to his wife, Bill will be missed by his family which include his three children, a daughter, Barbara Hewitt of Uhrichsville, and two sons, Kenneth Hewitt of Dennison, and Richard Hewitt of New Philadelphia as well as a sister, Jean Patterson also of New Philadelphia.Two granddaughters, Charity McGraw and Rebecca McGraw and two great-grandsons, Ronald Lippencott and Lars Smith complete the family.In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by an infant brother, Robert Hewitt, Jr. The family will receive friends on Friday, September 18, 2009, from 5:00 â?? 7:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Reverend Christine Johnson will lead a service celebrating Bill’s life in the funeral home’s chapel on Saturday, September 19, 2009, at 10:30 AM. Burial will take place in the Sharon Moravian Church Cemetery where the Tuscarawas VFW Post will conduct graveside honors.Following services, the family asks guests to join them in the fellowship hall of Sharon Moravian Church where a meal will be provided.Memorial contributions in Bill’s name may be sent to any heart or kidney foundation of the donor’s choice.