Wesley Charles Hewitt

Captain Wesley Charles Hewitt, USN Ret, received his final promotion on August 28, 2015 as he passed into eternal life. He was born in Los Angeles, California and enjoyed a most incredible life, spanning 83 very active and productive years. He is survived by his loving wife Sally Jean Hewitt, daughters Julia A. Holloway and her husband, David H. Holloway; Susan L. McCloud; and by his grandson, Callahan Hewitt Holloway. Captain Hewitt was a 1957 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He was also a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received two Masters Degrees, one in Ocean Engineering and the second in Mechanical Engineering. Captain Hewitt has held a wide variety of assignments during his 36 years of active duty, including: Service in USS Skate, SSN-578, which featured a 1962 arctic cruise with a surfacing at the North Pole; Assignments as the Engineer Officer in the Fleet Ballistic Missle Submarine USS Casimir Pulaski; as SSBN Material Officer of COMSUBRON 16 deployed in Rota, Spain; and later as New Construction project Officer ar SupShips Newport News, Virginia, where he was responsible for the oversight of the lead ship of the SSN-688 Class Nuclear Attack Submarine, USS Los Angeles; to the Naval Sea Systems Command as Assistant Program Manager for the SSN-688 Class Submarine Program; and to the Charleston Naval Shipyard as Repair and Planning Officer. He then reported to Commander, Submarine Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet as the Force Material Officer and Assistant Chief of Staff For Logistics. His final naval service was to the Philippines as Commanding Officer of the Naval Ships Repair Facility, Subic Bay. He retired from the U.S. Navy in May, 1988. After retirement he was employed by Newport News Shipbuilding in the next-generation Seawolf Submarine Design Project to apply his experiences and lessons learned to that new class of submarines. He was subsequently recruited to be General Manager of the Royal Saudi Shipyard in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. His Naval Service awards include The Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, National Defense Service Medal with Star, Expeditionary Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Having maintained an active correspondence with a former associate at Newport News Shipbuilding, he was invited to join Heflin & Williams, an engineering consulting firm in Norfolk, to assist in a group of projects then underway. That led to a long series of consulting engagements as an expert in naval design, construction, repair and operation, and in technical litigation support to many clients across the country. Wes served Hope Church in Chesapeake, Virginia, as Elder for six years; as Teacher and Minister at Oak Grove Sentara Assisted Living Home for thirteen years; and was on the Board of Directors for ORA International, a missions outreach organization for five years. He also found down time for recreational golf. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 from 6-8 PM. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 11 AM followed by interment and a luncheon reception. All services will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens at 6329 E. Virginia Beach Blvd. in Norfolk. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hope Church in Chesapeake, Virginia at www.comegethope.com.