David Eugene Skaggs

David Eugene Skaggs was born in Scioto County, Ohio, on September 25, 1938.  His kind soul and adventurous spirit took him many places, but he always loved his rural roots.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, David Parish and Chassie Lee (Bond) Skaggs, brother Virgil, and sisters Doris (Bayes), Victoria (Schmidt), and Marjorie (Brock). In his family by marriage, he was preceded in death by his beloved parents Francis and Marie (Simpson) Shonkwiler, brothers Charles and Lowell, and sisters Delores (Zempter) and Carolyn (Roberts).

     Left behind are we who will grieve and miss him terribly: his devoted and loving wife of 60 years, Lucille, son Dave (Marianne) Brooks, daughter Fran (Mike Tharp) Tiburzio, adopted son Anthony (Matthew O’Leary) Roberts, grandsons Michael Brooks, Joshua Brooks, and Nick Tiburzio, goddaughter Amy Hock, and a number of loving nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

     David was first and foremost a man of god.  He loved and collected books - and jokes. He was a dedicated foodie and a gearhead.  For his entire 81 years, he loved his family, embraced the world around him, and moved forward through life with a smile.   

     David was born into a Christian family, thrived on the family farm, and laughingly referred to himself as an “afterthought,” especially considering the 13 year difference between him and his next youngest sibling. He grew up loving the preachers and songs that made up the Ohio Valley United Baptist church services the family attended.  He felt the conviction of the Lord at the age of 16 and went to the altar for years before he was converted in January, 1966, and baptized on February 13, 1966.

     While working at the Williams Shoe Factory in Portsmouth, he met Lucy, the love of his life. Their first date was on New Year’s Day in 1959, and they were married on October 23 of the same year. They soon moved to Kansas City. David worked on the Wabash Railroad before being drafted and serving in the United States Army at Fort Ord (Monterey, California) until 1964. He returned to Ohio to work on the railroad until 1967.

     He had a variety of jobs throughout his professional career, but he excelled in roles that allowed him to work with logistics.  Some of his favorite positions were Traffic Manager, Terminal Manager, Employment Advisor, and Corporate Purchasing Manager.

     While working in Donora, Pennsylvania, in 1971, Lucy’s mother passed away. The family moved back to Scioto County to spend time with Dad.  Francis was saved a year later, and he wanted to go to church services every night. Someone from the family always went with him, most often David.  This is where he learned that there are born again Christians who did not attend the United Baptist Church. A whole new world of religion opened up for him.

     Since that time, the Lord blessed his spiritual life in a multitude of ways.  David joined the Gideons, taught the Junior Boys Sunday School, taught the Pastor’s Sunday School class, and led a two-hour weekly Bible class at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility for more than five years.

     After his retirement in 2002, David and Lucy moved from Cincinnati to Mansfield so they could be exactly halfway between Dave in Cleveland and Fran in Columbus.  They wanted to spend as much time as possible with their family - especially the grandchildren. While in Mansfield, they developed some wonderful friendships, redecorated their retirement home, enjoyed several great vacations, planted a garden each summer, and found a new church home at the Mansfield Baptist Temple. 

     David and Lucy walked together in life - best friends and devoted partners.  David was able to take great comfort in knowing they will walk together once again when they meet in Heaven.

     Calling hours will be from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at Werner-Gompf Funeral Services, ltd, 1106 Park Ave. East, Mansfield. Funeral services will follow at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home, with Pastor Rob Kurtz officiating. Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail will perform Military Honors.

     In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society would be welcome.

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