Van Witt

Van Wayne Witt

Services for Van Wayne Witt, long-time resident of Roswell, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 4, 2009 at First Baptist Church. He will lie in state for visitation on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 pm. Van Witt, 85, beloved husband, father, and friend went to be with the Lord March 29, 2009 at his home. He was born on August 28, 1923, in Garber, Oklahoma to I.H. and Margarite Witt and grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma, where he graduated from high school. At the age of ten, Van became a Christian and was baptized into the membership of First Christian Church of Ponca City, Oklahoma. After moving to Roswell in 1950, Van entered into the fellowship of First Baptist Church of Roswell and remained a member of that congregation until his death. His parents and only brother, Warren W. Witt, preceded him in death. Van is survived by his wife, LaNelle, at the family home and four children: daughter, Sherry Kay Keefer of Roswell; son, Doug Jones Witt and his wife, Melissa Ann and son, Asher of Roswell; daughter, Vickie Renee Watts, and her husband Wes, and sons, Tyler and Cody of Carlsbad; son, Michael Clay Jones and wife, Melissa and sons, Justin, Taylor, and Mason of Lubbock, TX; sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Ves Hicks of San Antonio, TX; sister-in-law, Anne Witt and her daughter, Carol Ann of Sandusky, Ohio. Van often said that his most rewarding and joyous moments in life were in sharing the accomplishments of his children and family and having the privilege of being a father to four wonderful children.

Another major joy of Vans was his lifelong love of sports, especially basketball. Coach Witt or Big Daddy, as he was known to Roswell old-timers, was an All-State basketball player at Ponca City High School in the 1940s. He was recruited by the legendary Oklahoma A M Coach Hank Iba, becoming Ibas protg and Assistant Coach during his years at Oklahoma A M, Stillwater, Oklahoma currently Oklahoma State University, where he received both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education and where he was a member of the SAE Fraternity. As Assistant Coach to Hank Iba, Van coached freshmen for one year and varsity for three years. During those 4 years, Vans teams won all the college basketball tourneys for 3 years, the Conference for 3 years, and were runner-ups to the National Championship. They were also participants in the NCAA Western play-offs for 3 years.
P After graduation from Oklahoma A M in 1950, Van moved to Roswell on Ibas recommendation. During his tenure as teacher and coach, he also did post-graduate work at New Mexico Western in Silver City, NM. Van served the Roswell District as head basketball coach for 13 years. An excerpt from a Roswell Daily Record article in those years1950s and 1960sgives insight into the professional career of Coach Witt:SPAN styleFONT-

Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home
910 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
8 AM to 7 PM

Service

Memorial

First Baptist Church
500 N. Pennsylvania
Roswell, NM  88201
Saturday, April 4, 2009
11:00 AM

Cemetery

Memorial Contributions

Roswell Rotary Club Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 163
Roswell, NM  88202

Baptist Childrens HomeP
P.O. Box 629
Portales, NM  88130