John David Wittenmyer

John David Wittenmyer was born on December 2, 1950, in East Cleveland, Ohio, to Lloyd Allen Wittenmyer and Anna Helen Mudra Wittenmyer. He grew up on Potomac Avenue in suburban Cleveland alongside his three older brothers, Lloyd, Nelson, and Bill. Two first-born brothers passed away as infants, though they were always loved and remembered. The family lost Anna to cancer when John was fifteen, at which time his brothers and their wives became even more supportive mentors to him. John attended Shaw High School, where he played football and baseball. The Shaw High baseball team won the state championship his senior year, a happy memory from his teenage years. John attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and played football and baseball, forming lifelong friendships. After graduation with a major in Religion, John stayed on campus to coach football for a season. He then matriculated at South Texas College of Law in Houston. John subsequently practiced law for forty-five years, first with the insurance defense firm Martin & Sperry, and then with Robert LeBoeuf, his law partner for over thirty years atLeBoeuf & Wittenmyer, P. C. 

John was a member of Memorial Lutheran Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher and held various leadership roles in the congregation, including chairman of the Board of Stewardship, chairman of the Day School Board, and chairman of the Board of Public Relations. John was honored to serve the Missouri Synod Lutheran church body at a national level, as a board member at the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for twenty-five years and as a Regent at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis for twelve years, where he was honored with the Christus Vivit award by the Seminary faculty.

John dearly loved his family, and he was particularly involved with the children’s extracurricular sports teams. He dedicated many enjoyable hours to coaching with the Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association, as well as attending almost every match of soccer, softball, baseball, football, field hockey, volleyball, wrestling, baseball, cross country, swim meets, and countless practices.

John retired from his practice of law and mediation only when his health became compromised by his six-year battle with cancer. He was deeply grateful for the prayers, care, and support from his family and relatives, Memorial Lutheran Church, thoughtful friends, and M.D. Anderson medical providers.

John is predeceased by his parents, brothers Lloyd and Nelson, and sister-in-law Sharon. He is survived by many cherished loved ones: his devoted wife, Betsy Brandon Gant Wittenmyer; his beloved children and their spouses, John David Wittenmyer, Jr. (Lauren Pinkerton), Margaret Locke Wittenmyer, Anna Ravenel Wittenmyer McAuley (Tommy); his brother, Bill and wife Marilyn; his sister-in-law, Barbara; Wittenmyer relatives in Ohio; Gant in-laws in North Carolina; and many dear friends from church, college, the legal community, and athletic teams.

Visitation will take place at Memorial Lutheran Church on Thursday, August 27 at 11:30 a.m., followed by a service at 12:30 p.m. Memorial Lutheran Church is located at 5800 Westheimer Road in Houston, and the funeral will be streamed on the church’s Facebook Page. A graveside committal will be held at Pine Hill Cemetery in Burlington, North Carolina, on Tuesday, September 1, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions maybe made to Memorial Lutheran Church, Allegheny College football and baseball programs, Concordia Seminary St. Louis, or the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.