David E. Zehner's Obituary
David E. Zehner, 86, of Amissville, Virginia, died Monday, August 19, 2024, in Murray, KY. He was born January 2, 1938, in Shelby, OH to the late Sterling E. and Irene L. (Reynolds) Zehner. He graduated from Shelby High School in 1956 and soon after joined the U.S. Navy as a musician playing euphonium. By special audition in 1961 he was offered a position in The United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. There he played many head-of-state arrival ceremonies at the White House, other important Naval ceremonies, numerous public performances, and many funerals in Arlington National Cemetery. While in Washington, D.C., he performed for seven Presidents: Hoover, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford. His final performance in the Navy was for the Shah of Iran and President Ford at the White House. While on active duty he earned an Associate of Arts degree from Prince Georges Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from George Washington University. He retired from the Navy as a Master Chief Petty Officer in 1976 and was immediately employed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C. as a civil engineer.
While employed by FERC he specialized in hydroelectric dam design and safety. He worked on numerous dams across the country licensed by FERC. He occasionally accompanied regional office inspectors on site inspections of existing licensed dams and new dams under construction. David was awarded the Rickey Medal, along with others, by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1995 for assisting in writing a technical publication entitled "Lessons Learned from the Design, Construction, and Operation of Hydroelectric Facilities". He earned a Master of Science degree in civil engineering and a Professional Degree of ENGINEER from George Washington University while working at FERC. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Virginia. He retired from the FERC in 2000 as a Senior Civil Engineer with 24 years of service.
David has made numerous church-related mission trips in the eastern United States and Haiti helping victims of hurricanes, tornados, and floods. He has worked for the local chapter of Habitat For Humanity for a number of years, and another group of church men building handicap ramps in the area. He also worked for Manna to feed the hungry in Culpeper.
He has continued to play with a number of community bands and at church after retiring from the Navy, most recently with the City of Fairfax Band and the Fauquier Community Band. In 2017 the City of Fairfax Band was invited to Normandy, France to perform for the D-Day ceremonies. David made the trip.
In 2013 he was voted into the Shelby High School Hall of Distinction for his life's work.
David is an active member of the Oak Shade United Methodist Church in Rixeyville, VA, where he is also a trustee.
David's first wife, Naomi M. (Osborne) Zehner, also from Shelby, passed away in 2016 after 54 years of marriage. He remarried to Patricia Ann Kinsey on September 2, 2018.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Kinsey Zehner; two sons, Darren E. Zehner and wife, Joy, and Kevin D. Zehner; one daughter, Daneen M. Colligan; three brothers, Charles William “Bill” Zehner and his wife, Noreen, Thomas R. Zehner, and Richard S. Zehner and his wife, Linda; five grandchildren, Alesia Colligan, Michael Colligan, Gaaelya Colligan, Cherie Zehner, and Alexis Zehner; and three great grandchildren. Additionally, he has two step daughters, Robin Neff, and Pennie Cookson; three step grandchildren; eight step great grandchildren; and three step great, great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Kari Renee Zehner; one grandson, Nicholas S. Zehner; and one sister-in-law, Judy Zehner.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper.
A funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Found and Sons Chapel with Rev. Hosub Sung officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Interment will be with his first wife in Section 48 of Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Section 48 is the closest section to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Oak Shade United Methodist Church, ℅ Mary Gibson, 16496 Oak Shade Rd., Rixeyville, VA 22737 and/or Fairfax City Band at www.fairfaxband.org.
An online guestbook and tribute wall are available at www.foundandsons.com
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
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