With sadness we share the news of the death of the Rev. Walter W. Witte, 89, on December 12, 2016 at Massachusetts General Hospital. He had served as Canon of Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral in Newark from 1969 to 1971. His funeral will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 11 AM at St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown, MA.
Born on September 11, 1927, Walter grew up in North Tonawanda, N.Y. He was a graduate of Hobart College, The Berkley Divinity School at Yale University and Union Theological Seminary in New York. Ordained to the priesthood in 1954, he served churches in the Dioceses of Western New York, Missouri, Springfield and Massachusetts in addition to serving at our Cathedral.
As a bi-vocational priest, he worked as personnel director at St. Louis City Hospital in St. Louis, MO and at The St. Louis Housing Authority. He also was a Vice-President at Drake Beam Morin and at New Directions, both in Boston, MA.
Walter is survived by his wife Patricia; his son Matthew (Roslynn) Witte; his stepchildren Margaret (Terry) Heffner, Michael (Megan) Griffin, and five step-grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to Patricia Witte, P.O. Box 4781, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Walter’s memory may be made to The Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (780 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118); The Animal Rescue League of Boston (10 Chandler St., Boston, MA 02116); or St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (73 Columbia Rd., Dorchester, MA 02121).
Good and gracious God, the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls, you sent your servant Walter to be a priest in your Church to feed your sheep with your word and to guide them by his example; give us the grace to keep the faith he taught and to follow in his footsteps. We entrust him into your unfailing mystery of Love and Hope through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
