Veronica Virginia Witt

Veronica Virginia Witt, 82, of Westerville, passed away November 3, 2022. She was born July 8, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, to Lynwood and Virginia (Bogart) Pickle. Veronica was a veteran of the US Air Force, serving proudly from 1961-1967, during the Vietnam conflict. Veronica, known to friends as “Ronnie”, worked as a secretary at Chemical Abstracts Services in Columbus for over 30 years.

She is survived by sons Randall (Daniel Brownell), John (Kortney), and Billy Witt; grandchildren Hannah, Zach, Emma, Gracie, and JJ; brother Artie (Terry), niece Diane, nephew Thomas; brother Jack, niece Christine, and nephew Brian. Sister in law Delores, nephew Larry (Sharon) Adkins, great nieces Candace, Tiffany, and Marissa; niece Lisa (Randy) Williams, great nephew Brian (Emily), great nieces Lindsey, Holly, and their children; Sister in law Jenny, nephews Arnie and Larry Witt, nieces Kim Bush (Ted), Jenny Kay, and their children. Brother in law Dean Morris (Diane), nieces Deanna Thurber (Brent) and April, and their children. Sister in law Susan Morris. Cousins in Tennessee Bobbie Citty and family.

She is preceded in death by her husband and soul mate of 30 years Rannell, parents, mother in law Madelynn Morris, brother in law Arnie Witt, niece Cathy Adkins, cousin RJ Citty, and many others she held dear.

Veronica grew up in Brooklyn as the daughter of a United States Marine and Long Island Railway worker and loving mother who worked in a bakery. She enjoyed playing “stickball” in the streets (to the dismay of the boys in the neighborhood), was a lifelong New York Yankees fan, and enjoyed time with her brothers Artie and Jack, and taking rides around the city in her grandfather Bogart’s taxi. Not long after high school she chose to enlist in the US Air Force, which changed her life forever. She was able to travel the country and world with stops in Louisiana, Texas, throughout Europe, and beyond. In May of 1963, her life changed forever when she met Rannell Witt at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. Within one year (on April 4, 1964) they would be married and begin their journey together. In 1967, both were honorably discharged from the Air Force and returned to Columbus, Ohio to begin a family (Ran in 1974, John in 1977, and William (Billy) in 1979). Veronica loved her boys unconditionally making sure they never wanted for anything. Holidays were always a great time as were the trips to Florida, Arizona, and other parts of the US. She always enjoyed a good piece of fruit cake, peeps and marshmallow eggs at Easter, chocolate covered cherries at Christmas, chocolate covered orange rinds in Tennessee, and anything dad was cooking on the grill. Veronica spent over 30 years as a secretary providing for her boys and making so many amazing friends at Chemical Abstracts Services including Terry Kruger, Jennifer Moore, Sue

Chrispin, Lucy Dixon, and so many other incredible people. You all were so much more than friends to mom and she loved you all dearly.

In retirement she may have found her greatest role and joy (other than being a partner to dad) as a grandmother. She was a natural and exuded more love than can be expressed. She rarely if ever missed a football, baseball, soccer, flag football, basketball game, ice skating or horseback riding lesson her grandkids were involved in. She showered them with love all the time whether it was a visit, babysitting, summer trip, birthday, or holiday she never missed a chance to let Hannah, Zach, Emma, and Gracie know how much they were loved. Her trips to New York, weekly lunch dates, trips around town, shopping ventures, and phone calls with Hannah made her heart overflow and provided her so many amazing memories. Zach’s big hugs and kind words for his tiny grandma, Emma’s heartfelt conversations and notes/letters, and Gracie’s artwork and chats with her, let their grandma know how much she meant to them as well.

Veronica was also blessed to have the amazing friendships of Connie and Carol Koch, Brooke Plummer, Dr. Vasanthy Rajah, and her lifelong best friend Gerry. Your visits, care, empathy, support and love for mom brought her comfort at the most critical times and you can never be thanked enough.

Uncle Artie and Uncle Jack, Mom loved you both so much and always talked about you. Please know you meant so much to her and your phone calls, cards, pictures, prayers, and gifts brought her great comfort. It would not be possible for you to understand how much she truly loved you. Thank you for always being there for your “Big Sis.” Again she loved you so much! Aunt Dee, mom always said you were the sister she never had. The bowling leagues, gatherings, and trips (w/ Johnny Cash playing on the 8 track) you all took (before her boys came along) and the consistent empathy, love, and support you showed her throughout her life was a true gift and blessing. She loved you so much and I hope you know how much you meant to her. Thank you for being you and always looking out for and loving her.

To all others who had an impact on mom’s life -please know you are appreciated.