Grover Cleveland DeWitt, 82, passed away peacefully at home on September 12, 2026. He was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania , on December 21, 1943. He joined the Air Force after high school and served as a radar specialist. When he was stationed at the Bluegrass Army Depot, he met his true love, Marilyn McCracken. Cleve felt he had found home in Berea and never left.
Cleve and Marilyn married at Westside Baptist Church in October 1965; they were married for 60 years, and he would tell anyone that finding and marrying Marilyn was the best thing he ever did. After leaving the Air Force, he worked for Parker Seal for several years. Along the way, he became a volunteer firefighter. In 1977, he became a full-time firefighter for the City of Berea. Cleve was happiest when he was helping people, and he served to protect life and property for 30 years before retiring as a Battalion Chief. If he was aware of someone in need and he could assist, he did. Many holidays, donations suddenly appeared and local firemen delivered meals and toys. He was also known by many from his years working for Finnell Furniture on his off-days when he repaired appliances and brightened many homes by delivering new furniture.
Family and friends were highly valued by Cleve, and he always enjoyed spending time with people he loved. He was a fisherman, spending many weeks at Lake Weiss in Alabama and then holding fish fries for anyone around. He liked golfing, eventually spending time and working for Battlefield Golf Course. He could fix almost anything, played a mean hand of Rook, followed college and professional football, enjoyed NASCAR racing, made the best peanut butter fudge ever and was highly skilled when grilling burgers or ribs on the back porch.
Cleve was preceded in death by his adored youngest daughter, Tracy DeWitt Hill (Berea), his brother, Dennie L. DeWitt (Baltimore, MD), and both parents, Grover C. DeWitt and Ruth DeWitt (Bellefonte, PA). He is survived by his wife, Marilyn McCracken DeWitt, Berea, his oldest daughter, Betsy (Stuart) DeWitt McCollum, Lexington; grandson’s Chris (Carmen) Bowe, Seattle, WA, Baylor Hill, Los Angeles, CA, and Jonah Hill, Berea; son-in-law Darryl Hill, Berea; and sister Gail D. Summers, Raleigh-Durham, NC, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and many close friends.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Lakes Funeral Home with Mayor Bruce Fraley officiating. The family will be accepting friends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the funeral home. In his memory, donations may be made to the Berea Fire Department, General Fund, 212 Chestnut Street, Berea, KY 40403
