George Osburn Witwer, minority stockholder in News-Banner Publications, Inc. and publisher emeritus and principal owner of KPC Media Group Inc. located in Kendallville, Indiana, died unexpectedly but peacefully late Thursday afternoon at his home in Key West, Florida. He was 92.
A graduate of Yale University, Witwer had a brief stint with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where he met his future brother-in-law and close friend, Ambassador James R. Lilley. He worked for several years on the East Coast as a journalist before becoming editor and general manager of The News Sun, Kendallville, in 1962. He purchased Kendallville Publishing Co. (the forerunner of KPC Media) in 1969 and grew the company over the years. He retired as publisher in 1996 but remained active on the company’s board of directors.
A longtime community leader in northeast Indiana, Witwer served on numerous civic and community boards and was named Kendallville Citizen of the Year by the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce in 1998. In 2007, he received the Hoosier State Press Association’s Charlie Biggs Commitment to Community Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received a lifetime achievement award from the ACD Festival board for his service to Auburn and the festival.
Born Sept. 27, 1929, in Owosso, Michigan, he was the son of George Mohler Studebaker Witwer and Jane Osburn Witwer. The family lived in South Bend at the time of his birth, and he grew up in South Bend.
On Oct. 12, 1951, at Fort Myer Memorial Chapel, Fort Myer, Virginia, he married Dorothy Lee Booth, daughter of Col. Waller Beall Booth Jr. and Dorothy Armstrong Taylor Booth. She preceded him in death on Sept. 21, 2015.
In 1989, Witwer and his wife made Key West, Florida, their second home. They were active in Reef Relief, an organization focused on saving coral reefs through research, education and political action. In addition, they were active in Samuel’s House, a nonprofit organization for homeless and/or battered women and children.
Surviving are four children and their spouses, Grace and Terry Housholder of Kendallville; Sally and Richard Stolz of Rockville, Maryland; Violette and Phillip Wysong of Wawaka; and George Booth and Dianne Witwer of Bluffton; and 14 grandchildren. His 22nd great-grandchild is due in early February.
He was baptized on Oct. 28, 2017 and later joined the Catholic Church.
Memorial services will be held at later dates in Key West and Kendallville.