Norval Vail DeWitt, 83, died on February 11, 2012, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2012, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3600 75th Street, Urbandale, Iowa 50322. Burial will be at Friends Cemetery in New Sharon, Iowa.

Norval was born on April 13, 1928, in Lacey, Iowa to Ruth (Vail) and Walter DeWitt. Norval grew up in Lacey, Iowa and attended Lacey High School. He was a four-star athlete at William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa and played semi-pro baseball for the Oskaloosa Sports. He transferred to NE Missouri State College (now Truman State University) where he graduated with a BA and later received a masters degree from Drake University.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Joan Faulkner on December 23, 1950 at Oskaloosa Central Methodist Church. They lived in Harcourt, Iowa from 1950-1953 where Norval was a high school teacher and coach. Norval served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1953-1955. He was a teacher, coach, and athletic director at Urbandale High School from 1955-1969. He later served as principal at Rockwell City High School from 1969-1972.

In 1973, he accepted a full-time position as a Fieldman, later becoming State Supervisor and Claims Administrator for Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance, retiring in 1993. Norval and Joan moved to West Des Moines in 1985 and were members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and Hillcrest Country Club, Adel.

He will always be remembered for his love of family. Always ready for a game, whether playing or cheering from the stands, he was his daughters' and grandchildren's biggest fan. He was always ready with words of kindness and guidance. Forever a coach.

Norval will be missed by his loving wife of 61 years, Joan DeWitt, West Des Moines; three daughters, Debra (Dennis) Anderson, Shawnee Mission, KS, and daughter, Paige; Kathryn Morrow, Urbandale, and children, Emily and Alex; Brenda (Martin) Morrow, Indianapolis, IN, and children, Andrew, Jackson, and Tyler; sister, Loretta Caves, Oskaloosa; and brother, Gerald DeWitt, Osceola. He was preceded in death by parents, Ruth and Walter DeWitt; brother, Kenneth DeWitt, and sons-in-law, Stephen Morrow and Randy Garth.

Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, at Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church or the Iowa Chapter of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 8033 University Blvd. Suite A, Des Moines, Iowa 50325. Online condolences will be welcomed at IlesCares.com.