Robert Lyle Witt

Robert Lyle Witt, 89, died November 21, 2013, at his home in Port Orchard. Robert was born in Wolfe Point, Montana, to Robert E. and Daisy Witt. His fondest memories of his childhood are about the “old homestead,” riding his horse in the snow to school, and the good times with his siblings and his favorite cousin Floyd Witt. In his teenage years, his Dad accepted a job in Seattle as an electrician. Upon arriving in Seattle, Robert enlisted in 1942 in the Army Air Force and served in a Flying Fortress B-17 Bomber crew, completing more than 30 combat missions over Europe. He received numerous commendations and awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In September 1945, after an Honorable Discharge, he returned to the Seattle area and began working for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, retiring in May 1985. He was a life member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, an American Legion member for 40 years, Veterans of Foreign Wars life member, and his greatest honor was to serve as Exalted Ruler of Elks Lodge 1181 from April 1992 to April 1993.

In retirement, he and his wife Frances loved to travel to Montana to visit with his “Montana Witt cousins” and their families. He always talked about growing up in Montana and he loved to show his children all the different places he had been to as a child.

Robert “Bob” was an easy going man who had many lifetime friends. He believed in treating people the way he would want to be treated and he did not believe in causing problems. Once you became his friend, you were always his friend. He always would be one of the first to help anyone in need or any of his friends who became ill and needed help. He shared his feelings and his outlook on having a successful life many times with his daughter, Linda Witt Brannan.

His wife, Frances, his parents and siblings preceded him in death. Three of his four Witt cousins in Montana are still surviving and he has kept in touch mainly with his cousin, Floyd. His daughter is continuing that close relationship with Floyd, who she describes as a wonderful, honorable man, just like her father. Bob loved family gatherings with his daughter and her family. He was a proud man, and was loved very much by his family.

He is survived by his daughter, Linda Witt Brannan, who he called “a blessing from God” and he loved her with all heart and was very proud of her. He enjoyed telling the staff at Ridgemont and at the hospital stories about her when she was a child. She gives credit to her father for the success she has had in life. He always taught her the importance of treating others with respect and not to judge people. He taught her the importance of integrity, morals and values, and the importance of an education. She followed his advice and had a very successful life, graduating from college, receiving her BA and MA in college and teaching at Olympic College and Central Kitsap High School until retiring. He is also survived by Bruce Brannan, the man who took over almost all of his health care when he started to have trouble with his diabetes back in 2006. Bob called him the son he had always wanted and they became very close.

Bob is also survived by Linda’s children, Kevin (Anna T) Welling, Kyle (Anna M) Welling and their two beautiful children Sophia (4) and Heather (2), and they are expecting twins in March and Bob commented on how sad he was that he would not be able to be part of their life, and Kara (Mike) Heffner and their son, William (5). He called himself and William “Best Buddies.” William lives in Hawaii, but Kara and Mike have always let him visit his grandmother Linda many times so he and Bob spent many hours together. William loved Great Grandpa Witt’s suspenders and he would pull his swim suit up to his chest and would tell everyone he looked like Great Grandpa Witt, but he needed some suspenders!

Bob was a man who would not give any time to meaningless gossip, especially as he said “it was just that — meaningless,” and did not like to waste any time on negative people or people who did not respect a hard day’s work. If you were in want or need, he taught his family that a good education and a job would cure that. Linda realized at an early age how important that was to her father and she made him a very proud man, and he called her “his whole world” and they shared a very close bond. Many friends commented on how much they were alike. He always told his family that they should enjoy life, live everyday to its fullest, and stay away from negative people who only blame others for their failures and always have their hand out for something.

Bob is survived by one other adult child.

Both Bob and Linda believe you should leave the past in the past, but learn something from it, and stay in the present and enjoy the life God has given you. Linda commented that this was one of the greatest lessons she learned from her Dad.

Bob entered the Stafford Ridgemont Nursing home on June 25, 2013, after a bad fall, and after many surgeries to his leg, infections, pneumonia, skin grafts, losing over 60 pounds, and the constant pain he endured, it had all taken its toll on Bob’s body. Linda and Bruce were there for him usually twice a day. Linda struggled with the fact that there was no cure for her loving father. Bob wanted to pass away in his own home, and Linda gave him her word of honor that she would make this happen if safe, and she fulfilled her promise and Bob fulfilled his promise to survive to be able to return to his home. Linda and Bruce, with the help of Derek Kallio, had renovated Bob’s home for wheelchair access. They brought him home from Stafford on November 11, returned him one last time to the hospital on November 16, where they knew the end was approaching, as he had pneumonia, was completely bedridden, in constant pain, had a low oxygen level and could no longer eat as he could not swallow. They brought him home on November 19, with hospice and caregiver Theresa Circulado, Bruce and Linda remained near his side until he passed away on November 21 at 8:40 a.m. His last words were to tell Linda how proud he was of her and her family. In his last breath, he told Linda “I will always love you, Linda,” and then he closed his eyes and passed away. Linda has struggled with her Dad’s passing and would like to say the following to honor this man who raised her and treated her with calmness, love and many hugs and she credits him with who she is today.

MY ROCK, MY HERO, MY DAD.

We come here today to say goodbye

To a hero of a man

A Dad created by God above

For me, that was His plan.

He saw that you were getting tired,

And a cure was not to be.

So God put His arms around you Dad

and whispered, “Come with Me.”

With tearful eyes, I watched you suffer,

And saw you fade away.

Dad, I love you with all my heart

But I knew you couldn’t stay.

Your golden heart stopped beating while

I held your loving hands in mine.

God gave me you to be my strength

Because Dad you were his BEST

Through the years you held my hand,

Our laughter I will always hear

These happy times will strengthen me,

And always keep you near and in my heart

Your final words to me will be

Forever in my heart

Embrace the love you have for your family

And that wonderful, loving man Bruce Brannan.

And in your last breath you said

“I will alway love you, Linda”

As the tears rolled down my face

I thanked God for blessing me with you

And thanked God for taking your pain away.

My Dad was not a man well known to the world, but

MY ROCK, MY HERO, MY DAD, he will always be.

I LOVE YOU DAD.

Thank you to our special caregivers Theresa and Julie, Kristina (11 years old) who found him after his fall, his many doctors in and out of the hospital, the special, loving staff at Stafford Ridgemont, the Port Orchard ambulance service, Miller Woodlawn Funeral Services, Hospice, and to all the friends who supported us. Also thank you Joey and Cody. A big thank you to Barbara Green who helped as a sister, funeral planner, and was always there just to talk. Also thank you Patsy Stammer, Cindy and Happy Jenkins, and Claudia Stonecipher who are my relatives and I couldn’t ask for any better. A very special thank you goes to my friend, Lila, who has helped me in too many ways to list and also a thank you goes to my daughter, Kara’s, Mother-in-law, Vickie Ireland. The greatest thank you goes to God, who took my Dad home to be with my Mom, Frances. And lastly, but far from being last, thank you Uncle Floyd, you have helped me through the most difficult moments of my life by just listening to me, I love you and I will see you soon.

Robert requested no funeral services, and in lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice of Kitsap County. A special military memorial will be held for Robert and is by special invitation only. Color guards from the armed services will be there to honor him before he is interred in the mausoleum next to his wife, Frances, whom he loved dearly and he was ready to be with her. Any uninvited people will be asked politely to leave. Thank you.