John Dewitt Suits, 92, of Cleveland, passed away Monday, April 16, 2012, in a local health care facility.

He was the third child of eight born to the late John O. and May Knittle Suits.

He was born in Cohutta, Ga., and educated in Whitfield County, Ga., and Bradley County schools.

He was a World War II veteran serving in the famed 2nd Armored Division “Hell on Wheels” as a tank commander where he received three Arrowheads for amphibious assaults for the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy.

While with the division, he received eight battles stars for participating in key battles and campaigns which included Tunisa, Algeria-French Morocco, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe, The Ardennes, and The Rhineland. He was a member of The Benning to Berlin Club and served under noted armor Gens. George S. Patton, Earnest Harmon, and Isaac D. White.

After the war, he went to work at Hardwick Stove Co. where he worked for 38 years, retiring in 1985 as general plant foreman. He was active in farming most of his adult life raising Black Angus cattle. He was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Helen Pierce Suits; brothers: Dennis Suits, Doyle Suits, George Suits, and Virgil Suits; and sisters: Nellie Snyder and Mattie Mae Kinchen.

Survivors include his daughters: Delores Driver of Cleveland, Deborah Johnson of Knoxville, Daphne Graham of Tullahoma, and Regina Simmons of Sewanee, Ga.; son, Reginald Suits of Ooltewah; nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; sister, Louise Suits of Cleveland; sister-in-laws: Katie Rymer Suits and Ann Moore Suits, both of Cleveland; and brother-in-law, Sid Kinchen of Baton Rouge, La..

A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 19, 2012, in Chattanooga National Cemetery with the Rev. Frank Nolen officiating. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Fike Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital or the charity of one’s choice.

You are invited to send a message of condolence and view the Suits family guest book at www.fikefh.com.