Clinton C. “Bud” DeWitt, flew in World War II.

Clinton C. “Bud” DeWitt Jr. died after a short illness on
December 5, 2003 at Healdsburg District Hospital. He is survived by
Gail, his spouse of 63 years; sons and daughters-in-law Dr. Grigg
and Shalley DeWitt of Salinas; Clint and Barbara DeWitt of Incline
Village, Nevada; Dyke and Margie DeWitt of Baja California Sur,
Mexico; and Mark DeWitt of Santa Rosa; grandchildren Jane and Bart
Kay, Karen and Scot Mattei, Shannon and Tait Rafat, Jason and
Danielle DeWitt, Felicity and Bryan Dilts, Davis DeWitt, Melanie
and Scot Costa and Nathan DeWitt; and great-grandchildren Joshua
Kay, Paige Mattei, Alia Rafat, Kandace and Tyler Dilts, and Claire
Costa. Also surviving are his brother and sister-in-law Robert and
Rita DeWitt and his sister Helen Avens. Bud was born on May 13,
1916 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan
and UCLA. In 1937 he started his first mortgage company, Syndicate
Mortgage Company, in Oakland, which grew and evolved into one of
the most successful mortgage companies in Northern California. In
1941 he served in World War II as a plane commander in Naval Air
Transport Services. While in the Bay Area, the DeWitts were charter
members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Orinda. In the
mid-sixties, Bud and Gail moved to Healdsburg where they have since
resided. Bud was a long-standing member of the Pacific Union Club
of San Francisco. Duck hunting, fishing and flying were his
passions. He was an avid pilot and fisherman and was one of the
pioneer pilots to fly small aircraft to Baja California Sur in the
1950’s. Bud always recognized the potential in other people and he
helped them generously in both his business and personal life. He
will be missed by all. Private family memorial services were held
at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Healdsburg, with Canon Marvin N.
Bowers officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Healdsburg District Hospital, 1375 University Street, Healdsburg,
CA 95448.