In Memory of
TSgt. Harold 'John' Witt
1931 - 2017
Date of Birth: Tuesday, October 20th, 1931
Date of Death: Friday, September 15th, 2017
Obituary:
Harold "John" Witt (10/20/31 - 9/15/17) passed away at Kindred Hospice in San Antonio, Texas.
"John" leaves behind his spouse of 59 years Jeanette "Jan" Badger Witt. "John" died of complications of advanced dementia, and pneumonia.
He leaves behind his Son John (Cindy) Witt, Grandchildren Heather (JJ) Perez, Ian (Valeria) Guerra, Kimberly Witt-Dozier, Brittany (Arthur) Witt-Cortez, John Ian (Brittney) Witt, and Great Grandchildren Sydney J. Perez, Alexis J. Perez, Santiago Guerra, Carlos Guerra, Nyah Dozier, Joshua Dozier, Austin Cortez, Alivia Cortez, and Aurum Cortez.
Harold "John" Witt was a Vietnam Veteran and 20 year retiree of the United States Air Force, retiring at Lackland Air Force Base in June of 1969. In the late 1950’s and 1960’s he was involved with the early development of Sentry Dogs and the Sentry Dog School (MWD) at Lackland.
After retiring he joined the United States Treasury Department's US Customs Department. He was one of the first narcotic dog handlers under Richard M. Nixon's new program. Working out of the San Francisco bay area, he was very successful in the application of his 2 drug sniffing dogs. Harold John Witt was called before President Nixon to perform two separate demonstrations (one in Washington D.C. and one in Sacramento, CA) of the narcotic dogs ability to detect drugs in the US incoming overseas mail and in ships, airplanes and vehicles.
He later worked as a Customs Patrol Officer on the Mexico/US border in Laredo, Texas. He retired from the US Treasury Dept. in 1985 and retired in Del Rio Texas, and San Angelo Texas.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Gideon's International, the VFW, the American Legion, and the Military Order of the Cootie, cheering up veterans in VA hospitals. He was very active in his local church congregations in Del Rio, TX and San Angelo, TX.
