Larry was born on September 16, 1934 in New York, New York and his family moved to New Jersey when he was six years old. As a boy, he attended St. Johns The Evangelist School. He enjoyed scouting and achieved the level of Eagle Scout. Larry attended Bergenfield High School and Dumont High School. In August 1952 Larry joined the US Navy and later qualified as an Engineman; he served on the submarine USS Trumpetfish (SS-425). For his service during the Korean War, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.
On May 8, 1954, Larry eloped with his sweetheart, Arline Blunt and the couple moved to Key West, Florida where Larry was stationed. After he was honorably discharged from the Navy, Larry & Arline moved back to New Jersey. The recession took a toll on the job market and Larry’s philosophy was: “if you’re out of work, there’s no sense staying where it’s cold”, so they moved back to Florida in January of 1958 and landed in Brevard County.
Larry took a position at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station working on the Polaris missile program, where he personally loaded the first Polaris missile into the tubes of the first fleet ballistic missile submarine, the George Washington. He then began working on the Agena program, which was used with Atlas and Mercury rockets. His position with Lockheed Missiles and Space took the DeWitt family to Sunnyvale California for one year, then it was back to Florida. In 1980 Larry took a position with Rockwell as a project manager on the Space Shuttle Program. Larry returned to Lockheed Space Operations Company and he retired May 31, 1996 as the Manager of Shuttle Payload Integration Operations.
Through all his professional accomplishments, family was priority and focus for Larry. On September 27, 1957 Arline & Larry welcomed their first baby boy, Robert Edward. Next up was Andrew Dale, who was born on January 28, 1961, and the baby of the family, Scott Allan, was born on June 11, 1963. Keeping up with a household of three boys was not an easy job, but the family found quality time camping together. Spring breaks, weekends, and summer vacations would find the DeWitts loaded up and exploring the country visiting national parks, state parks, and other well-known attractions; they also enjoyed visiting family & friends along the way. Ultimately Larry and Arline camped in every state in the continental US and visited Alaska and Hawaii as well. Their explorations were not limited to the United States; in fact, the couple explored over 85 countries.
When not traveling, Larry loved reading, painting and fishing, but one of his biggest joys was spending time with his 8 grandchildren (chronologically): Eric, Aimee, Katie, Lauren, Cameron, Daniel, Andrea & Griffin. Beginning when they were babies, all the grandchildren were invited to Swim Day Tuesday every week with Grandma & Grandpa. The only ones who looked forward to Swim Day more than the children were their parents who then got the afternoon off. Larry’s & Arline’s dedication to their grandchildren was evidenced by their calendar which was always filled with birthdays, school events, sporting events, graduations and holiday get-togethers. One of the saddest days in Larry’s life was losing his first grandchild, Timothy Edward, who passed away shortly after his birth in 1986.
In 2012 grandson Eric was blessed with his first child, Larry and Arline’s first great-grandchild, Brooklyn who stole her grandfather’s heart. Brooklyn loved to spend time playing, swimming and reading with her grandfather.
Larry is also survived by his sister, Mary (Pete) Sheehan; sister-in-law, Doris Muller Schroeder; 6 nephews and a niece.
Services will be held at Our Savior’s Catholic Church in Cocoa Beach on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 4:00 pm, followed by a reception at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Merritt Island beginning at 5:30 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Promise in Brevard (www.promiseinbrevard.com/donate), or a charity of your choice.
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