David Yost Miskimen

David Yost Miskimen, of Dover, passed away in his home early Sunday morning, April 26, 2009, just four days shy of his 87th birthday. Born at Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1922, he was one of sixteen children born to the union of James M. B. and Miriam Martha Yost Miskimen. As a young man, David graduated from Mineral City High School before attending the College of Wooster and ultimately the University of Utah where he studied to be a land surveyor. His education served him well as David lead a lifelong romance with the outdoors. He became a Registered Surveyor with the State of Ohio and joined the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District briefly before entering the United States Army Air Corps. Once overseas, stationed in London, David took the controls as Pilot of a B-17 bomber, and was involved in the air offensive over Northern Europe during World War II. For his service, he was awarded the Air Medal with five gold oak-leaf clusters, and the European Service Medal. By October, 1945, David’s mission was complete, and he returned to set up house with his high school sweetheart, the former LaVaughn “Peg” Miskimen. The couple had wed just prior to Dave’s deployment, on July 17, 1943. Dave went to work as a surveyor with the former Born & Born Engineering & Surveying of New Philadelphia. He would later purchase an interest in the company before joining together with his son David to form Miskimen Engineering & Surveying at New Philadelphia before retiring on his sixty-second birthday in 1984. Retirement wasn’t really an appropriate word for an active servant like Dave. He immediately went to Alaska for a month to assist in the construction of a church seminary building, and would sing in the Sharon Moravian Church Choir, his final performance only a week before his passing. Dave enjoyed volunteering with the Tuscarawas County Senior Center, first as a driver, and more recently as a cashier for luncheons. Additionally, Dave was a longtime member of the Sharon Moravian Church, serving in nearly every volunteer capacity, including the Eastern District Board of the Moravian Church in North America. Dave was a lifetime member of the Tuscarawas VFW, a member of the Nineveh Grange for more than fifty years, and an active member of the Tuscarawas County Camp of Gideon’s International. When not at work, or serving others, Dave could be found enjoying a round of golf, fishing, hunting, traveling to Texas to be together with friends, or playing card. Most of all, he enjoyed the companionship of his wife of sixty-five years, “Peg”.Together, Dave and Peg reared a daughter; Dianne (husband Jerry) Ackerman of Dover, and a son; David (wife Dianna) Miskimen of Carrollton, OH. Grandchildren are Eliot (wife Helen) Miskimen and Jason Miskimen, all of Tampa, Florida, Thomas (wife Kera) Ackerman of Lexington, Kentucky and the late Owen Miskimen and Ryan Johnson. Step-grandchildren include Joni (husband David) Homan of Uhrichsville, Lisa Schimenski of Cincinnati and Dusty (wife Krisda) Kinsey of New Philadelphia.David will be sadly missed by his sisters; Betty Sell of Dover, Margaret Neff of Yardly, Pennsylvania, Harriet Everhart of Dover, and brothers; Paul Miskimen of Sacramento, California, John (wife Sherri) Miskimen of Jim Falls, Wisconsin, and Hugh (wife Sandy) Miskimen, of New Philadelphia. Survivors also include sisters-in-law; Rita Miskimen of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Esther Miskimen of Panama City, Florida, Ruth Miskimen of Goose Creek, South Carolina, a brother-in-law; Don Ball of Dover.Four great-grandchildren, six step great-grandchildren, and more than fifty nieces and nephews complete the family. In addition to his parents and two grandsons, David is preceded in death by five sisters; MaryAnn Walsh, Lucy Loader, Catherine Rudd, Jane Colton, and Charlotte Ball, as well as four brothers; Richard, Jim, Bob, and Dan Miskimen. Friends are invited to call Tuesday April 28, from 2-4 and from 6-8PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where Gideon’s Camp Services will be held at 7:45. Pastor Michael Foran will lead Mr. Miskimen’s funeral Wednesday morning at 11AM in the Sharon Moravian Church. Burial with military honors will follow in the church cemetery. Following the committal service a luncheon will be shared in the church fellowship hall.Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Moravian Church, PO Box 385, Tuscarawas, OH 44682-0385, or to the Tuscarawas County Camp of Gideon’s International, PO Box 261, Dover, OH 44622.