The life & times of “Red” Witmer
1910 - 1984


Nevin David Elias Witmer was born on Christmas Eve 1910. His mother was Cora Spicher of Lancaster Pennsylvania, land of the Pennsylvania Dutch. In the Fall of 1934, he married Ethel Mae Miller of Millersburg PA. They had two sons, Frank & Jack Witmer.

I remember Dad and his patience at teaching me to drive, hunt and handle life. I remember folk songs like "The Big Rock Candy Mountains" that made levity of hard times. Following those years of the depression, he worked as a coal miner, long haul trucker, etc. His final job was with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a correction's (police) officer.

Eventually, my father's red hair turned to silver. He died on the 24th day of April 1984. He had lived for 26.785 days. His ashes were scattered to the waters of Delaware, his final home. The words of poet Mary Elizabeth Frye express his implied epitaph.


Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am a gentle autumn rain.

I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the softly falling snow.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.


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