Gary Allen Witte, Sr.

“That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much.” --Robert Louis Stevenson

Gary Allen Witte, Sr. died peacefully, surrounded by family, at the Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, at the age of 76. He was a Vietnam veteran, a railroad train enthusiast and the architect who designed St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Statesboro. His was an example of a life well-lived.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ann Alexander Witte of Statesboro, Ga.; his son, Gary Allen Witte, Jr. and daughter-in-law Melissa Lewis Witte of Kennesaw, Ga.; and daughter, Pamela Witte Coleman Nye and son-in-law Derek Sebastian Nye of Duluth, Ga. He was especially proud of his grandchildren Alexander Davidson Witte, Eleni Noel Witte, Melissa Ann Coleman, Sarah Emily Coleman, and Rachel Diane Nye. He is preceded in death by his father, Leslie Martel Witte, his mother, Vera Marie Clarkson Witte, sister, Karen Sue Witte Oefelein, and brother-in-law, Glenn Oefelein, all of whom will be welcoming him to the party.

He was born on Aug. 22, 1942, in Freeport, Ill., where he lived until the family moved to Statesboro in 1954. He also earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1958 with Boy Scout Troop 340. He graduated from Statesboro High School in 1960, going on that fall to the Georgia Institute of Technology to study architecture. While he was at school, he earned a commission in the U.S. Army and graduated from the Engineer Officer Basic Course in 1968. He served in Vietnam and his tour there was 1969 to 1970 with the 20th Engineer Battalion (Combat). Upon returning stateside, he earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree in May 1971. While at Georgia Tech, he joined the Beta Pi chapter of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

He married Ann Alexander on Sept. 11, 1965, in Macon, Ga., but they lived in Virginia and Atlanta for a time before moving to Statesboro in 1971. He was an accomplished architect, capping his career by working in the Facilities Department of Georgia Southern University from 1980 to 2005. He retired from the school after more than 25 years of dedicated service.

He was passionate about family, friends, music, history, and trains. He was a founding member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and proudly served in a number of leadership positions there, including church elder and Sunday school superintendent. He also firmly believed in a life of service and was an active member of the Elks Club of Statesboro, Kiwanis Club of Statesboro, and the Bulloch County Historical Society. In 1966, he joined the National Railway Historical Society and he was honored in 2016 for 50 years of membership -- celebrating his lifelong interest in trains, which began in the Freeport railyards.

Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 6-8 p.m. at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.

His memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, with the interment to follow at Bulloch Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Sam Clay will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Gary Witte's life.

Memorial contributions can be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, or the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Ga.

The family would like to thank the staff of Ogeechee Area Hospice and the Southern Manor’s Companions Program for their care and dedication.

Please visit our online memorial at WWW.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guestbook and share fond memories with the Witte Family.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.