KERN, David Eugene

David Eugene Kern, 83, born in Bakersfield, CA, May 5, 1920, the second son of Boyd and Hannah Kern, died April 17, 2004, in Scottsdale. After graduating from Santa Clara University, David worked at Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank, CA as a service engineer. He designed servicing and maintenance procedures and wrote "Erection & Maintenance" and "Repair" technical orders. Mr. Kern left Lockheed in June 1943, at which time he entered the Army Air Corps where he served honorably from June 1943 until his separation in September 1946. Upon completion of his active military service, David worked as a salesman of irrigation pumps for Wintroath Pump Company in Southern California, operating out of Lancaster, CA. He was transferred to the company's Phoenix office in 1961 and retired from there when the company was sold. After his retirement, David spent much of his leisure time traveling to the Los Angeles area visiting friends and family. He enjoyed his freedom from the work place, doing what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it. He was much in demand during the winter "social season" as an available extra man for dinner parties in some of the finest homes in Phoenix and Paradise Valley. David was predeceased by his parents and an older brother, Robert. He is survived by his brother, Joseph (Lynda) Kern, Fillmore, CA and Joseph's children, Hannah(Clark) Tulberg, Santa Paula, CA; Peter (Erica) Kern, Oxnard, CA; Paul (Mary) Kern, San Luis Obispo, CA; Mary (Robert) Orellana, Santa Paula, CA; Elizabeth (Ken) Kulwiec, Glenwood Springs, CO; Charles (Sandrine) Kern, Los Angeles, CA and Dominic Kern, Fillmore, CA. David is also survived by his companion for the past 36 years, Robert Paty, Scottsdale, AZ. Memorial Mass was held at St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church, 1030 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ. David's cremains will be interred in the family plot at Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the nursing staffs in the ICU, the Telemetry Unit and Specialty Select Unit at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn for their excellent care of David during his long hospitalization and also the nursing staff at Plaza Healthcare where David spent his final days. A special thank you to Dr. Amy Lipan at Plaza Healthcare not only for her attentions to David's needs but also for the comfort she provided to his family. Arrangements by Messinger Indian School Mortuary, Scottsdale. Published in the Arizona Republic on 4/21/2004.