William Benjamin Hewitt

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 1, 2005 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bushwood, MD with Rev. Francis J. Early officiating. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation: Public visitation will be held in the funeral home on Thursday, March 31, 2005 from 5 - 8 PM with prayers being said at 7:00 PM and Fireman's Prayers at 7:10 PM. William Benjamin Hewitt, Sr., 79, of Bushwood, MD died on Tuesday March 29, 2005 in his home after a brief illness. Born February 4, 1926, in Medley's Neck, MD, he was the son of the late Hiram and Madeline Roe Long Hewitt. He is survived by his wife, Helen Cecelia Gibson Hewitt, whom he married on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1952, at Sacred Heart Church in Bushwood, MD. He is also survived by eight of his nine children: Rose Ellen Mattingly of Abell, MD; William Benjamin Hewitt, Jr. of Louisville, KY; Barton Anthony Hewitt and his wife, Jeanne Toussaint, of Odenton, MD; Michael Patrick Hewitt of Mililani, HI; Mark Christopher Hewitt and his wife, Kathleen, of Gainesville, VA; Mary Beth Bowen and her husband, Franklin, of Leonardtown, MD; Joanne Patricia Crane and her husband, Eric, of Annapolis, MD; and Donald Allen Hewitt and his wife, Tammy, of Lexington Park, MD and his son-in-law, Charles Chiamardas of West Palm Beach, FL. He is also survived by ten grandchildren: Teresa Scherer and her husband, Adam; Crystalyn Hodgkins and her husband, Matthew; Lucas Hewitt; Chase Chiamardas; Robert LeMay; Jennifer Hewitt; Benjamin Hewitt; Cydney Chiamardas; Rebecca Hewitt and Amanda Hewitt and two step grandchildren, Brandon Harvey and Ryan Crane. Another grandson and first great-grandchild are expected in July and April, respectively. Mr. Hewitt is also survived by his siblings, Joseph Hiram Hewitt of Avenue, MD; Ruby Elizabeth Cheseldine and her husband, James, of Bushwood, MD; Pearl Elizabeth Long of Temple Hills, MD and Frances Madeline Ruark of Fruitland, MD. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Laurie Ann Chiamardas, on May 29, 2004 and his siblings, James Roger Hewitt, Francis Frederick Hewitt, Mary Hilda Richardson, Helen Cecelia Ruark, and John Stanley Hewitt, Sr. He attended Great Mills Elementary School, Our Lady's Elementary School in Medley's Neck, MD and St. Mary's Academy in Leonardtown, MD. He began his career as a farmer and part-time carpenter. He also worked for the A & P and Super Fresh stores as a meat cutter/manager for 31 years. He was a member of the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department for 55 years, where he served as Chief Engineer from 1961 to 1975, as Vice President from 1974 to 1999, and then as President from 1999 to 2002. In addition, he was a charter member of the Seventh District Rescue Squad for 18 years. As a fireman, he was elected to the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen's Association Hall of Fame in 1990, received the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department's Outstanding Leadership Award, received the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department's Presidents Award on January 22, 2005, served on the Engine 51 Truck Committee, and was a Lifetime Member of the Firemen's Association. He served as Vice President of ACTS, School Board member for Holy Angels-Sacred Heart School, and was inducted into the 4-H All-Stars in October 1992. He attended daily Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Bushwood and served Mass everyday until he was no longer able. He was a member of the Sacred Heart choir for 15 years and was on the Financial Council of Sacred Heart Church. On Sunday, February 15, 2005, he and his wife, Helen, received the Merit Award from Theodore Cardinal McCarrick for their assistance and service over the years at Sacred Heart parish. The family received friends on Thursday, March 31, 2005 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 1, 2005 in Sacred Heart Church, Bushwood, MD with Reverend Francis J. Early, Pastor and Monsignor John Brady officiating. The Sacred Heart Choir will sing. Altar servers will be Josh Gass, D.J. Morgan, Lucas Gibson, and Tom Raley. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Pallbearers will be George McWilliams, John "Speedy" Nelson, Jr., John Nelson, Sr., J.C. Vallandingham, Leon Zimmerman, Joe Brito, Joseph Allan Norris, and Michael Huseman. Honor guards will be Doug Santschi, Steve Gibson, "Buzz" Hall, and Donald Morgan. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary. Memorial contributions may be made to the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 206, Avenue, MD 20609; Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650; or ACTS, P.O. Box 54, Bushwood, MD 20618.