His many friends don't really believe Dave minded leaving this world at this particular time. The death of the love of his life Jeanne five years ago made every day since a battle to stay relevant. In fact, the smile we detected shortly before his last breath made us think he was already embracing that little teenage girl he met some 70-years ago. His daily ritual of taking flowers to her grave site reinforced our conviction. David Mathew Newman was born on the ninth of September 1938. It was one year before the start of World War II, but his parents Mathew and Maxine (since passed) had a lot more on their minds as they settled into their Berry street home in East Toledo to build their family. A sibling sister Rebecca arrived seven years later - she too has passed. Mathew worked long hard hours for the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad to provide a comfortable living for his new family. Dave enjoyed competing in all sports and when the family moved to Oregon after one year at Waite High School he found himself at quarterback for Ted Federici's Clay Eagles. The experience was short lived as Dave suffered a broken leg on a hard hit from a Genoa defensive lineman - this ended his gridiron aspirations It was about this time that the young quarterback and a Clay cheerleader caught one another's eye. Jean Marie Dunberger was everything Dave was not, but they were a perfect match. Jeannie was an intelligent self-effacing accomplished student totally comfortable in her own skin. Dave loved the flash and dash of Corvettes and wanted to prove to everyone he could out work anyone. It was at this time in their earl;y courtship Dave was hit by a crippling thunderclap. His beloved mother was killed in an horrific car accident. Dave's very reason for existence seemed threatened. His mother was always there for him. There were no problems Mom couldn't solve - she was sensitive to all his foibles and replete with antidotes. It was an eternal nightmare from which he might never awake. It seemed only divine intervention could save the teen from a debilitating depression. That intervention came from a mortal soul - a teenage girl three years his junior he had dated for over a year. Jeannie possessed the love, compassion and equanimity essential to bringing the stricken teen out from under that darkening cloud. They became inseparable to the point that marriage seemed the only long term alternative. So on September the second 1961 they tied the knot. Jeannie had attended the University of Toledo and had excellent employment as an Xray technician. Dave joined management at Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. The future looked bright and secure. This is where Uncle Sam gets involved. With the ink still wet on their marriage certificate, the United States Army decided Dave would make a good soldier. So off they went to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Dave had no military background, but seemed to thrive wearing Army fatigues. Colonel F.H Hartline summed up Dave's basic training with a personal evaluation: "Dave's performance of duty, leadership ability, and untiring efforts throughout basic training were of the highest caliber. Men of his attributes are a distinct asset to the Army and will contribute greatly, in the years to come, to the United States". - That's tall cotton coming from a Colonel -- The next stop for the newlyweds was Fort Hood, Texas where he was assigned to the famed 1st Armored Division. He rose to Sergeant and sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama for biological war training and then back to Fort Hood. His unit was put on alert during the Cuban Missile crisis. By the time the issue came a cropper his two year service was about to expire. Dave and Jeanne had adapted well to army life, but felt it was time to return to their roots in the Buckeye state. His outstanding military record impressed his old employers at the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. The prodigal son was joyfully welcomed home. His future in RR management was about to become a 42-year ladder climbing enterprise. The return home and his new position allowed Dave to seriously pursue many past times. He was a quality consumer who appreciated superb workmanship whether it was cars, guns, golf clubs, tennis rackets or bird dogs. He became active in many national and local civic organizations - a lifelong Mason, NRA member, National Corvette Club, VFW - to name just a few. He also had a major place in his heart for Ohio State Football and Woody Hayes but, by far, his biggest addiction , as Jeanne would call it, was Corvette fever. He bought his first in 1960 and then eight after that. Some are still on the road somewhere. The couple traveled much of America to car shows, Corvette clubs nationwide, and almost yearly visits to Bowling Green Kentucky - the exclusive home of the Chevrolet Corvette. He won many awards for his cars, but always insisted the greatest reward was just being there with Jeanne. They were a couple that enjoyed being together whether at a car show, on the tennis court or sharing dinner with friends..it was most definitely a mutual admiration society. Dave also loved hunting and fishing, and especially enjoyed field-working his English Setters. They had to be the luckiest dogs in the world to live with the Newmans. Their TLC was so complete that Dave claimed Jeanne insisted they go from a queen sized mattress to a king in order to accommodate the setters - a story perhaps apocryphal but credible. Dave and Jeanne lived a comfortable life in Oregon. Dave did well at CSX- RR while Jeanne was regarded as one of the best X-Ray technicians in Toledo. Dave put his heart and soul into his work at CSX . He was promoted often, ending his long career as Transportation Manager and ultimately taking over as Superintendent of the sprawling Lake Erie Coal & Ore Docks until his retirement in 2001. The corporate respect Dave earned is best summerized in a lengthy missive from the Corporate Manager of Industrial Relations in Baltimore, Mark F. Wilson. I quote in part: "I have had extensive daily contact with Dave and never ceased to be impressed by Dave's knowledge, skill and professionalism. I am not stretching the truth when I state that David is the glue that holds CSX operations together in the Toledo area." Dave's long, albeit sometimes tragic, journey came to an end on the morning of August the 22nd at the age of 87. He spent his final hours at Hospice after exemplary care at St. Vincent's Heart and Vascular Center. He now is where he wanted to be all along - with Jeanne and Maxine forever. Godspeed Dave Newman - We will miss you.

Private graveside services were held at Lake Township Cemetery. Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel.