David C. Bryenton

DAVID C. BRYENTON, age 91,

of New Knoxville, passed away at the Otterbein Senior Lifestyles Community in St. Marys following a brief illness on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, surrounded by his loving children. He was born in Cleveland on November 13, 1933, the son of the late Charles E. and Priscilla E. (Kruse) Bryenton. After graduation from James Ford Rhodes High School in Cleveland, David earned his bachelor of arts from Ohio Wesleyan University and his bachelor of science from Case Western Reserve, and later his masters of science from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1972. While going to school, he worked for the Union Carbide Consumer Products Co. before accepting a teaching position at Burlington County Community College in New Jersey. It was here that he taught mechanical engineering graphics for the next 30 years, and where he was also instrumental in starting the school’s C.A.D. program before his retirement in 1990. After his retirement, he married Shirley A. (Stienecker) Meyer in 1999 and they celebrated 24 years of happiness together before her death on June 12, 2024.

David was an active member of the New Knoxville Methodist Church as a choir member for many years and was part of a team that serves the Midwest Distribution Center in Chatham, IL for 20 years. He was also a long-time volunteer with Agape Ministries in St. Marys. Travel was a big part of David and Shirley’s lives, and together they saw the world by plane, by bus, or by David’s sailboat. David had a passion for sailing, belonging to a yacht club and sailing up and down the East coast and even in parts of Europe. David and Shirley also enjoyed music and held season tickets to the Lima Symphony Orchestra and the Wooster Light Opera. Family was also an important part of David’s life, keeping up with all of the grandchildren’s activities, playing bridge, pinochle, marbles, dominos, and chess; just enjoying time with them whenever possible. In his quiet time, he was an avid reader and enjoyed completing crossword puzzles. He also enjoyed golfing and he dabbled in woodworking.

Along with his parents and wife, David was preceded in death by his sister Jean Bryenton, a son-in-law Steven Nelson, and a step-grandson Robin Cox. He is survived by his children: Patricia (John Pape) Nelson of New Bremen, Patrick “Buz” (Rachel) Meyer of Celina, Penny (Collin) Cox, and Preston (Carol) Meyer all of New Knoxville: his 13 grandchildren and their spouses, 30 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 3:00 P.M. at the New Knoxville Methodist Church with Pastor Dennis Gaertner and Pastor Sherwin Parmar officiating. The funeral service will also be live-streamed on the church's YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@nkmethodist.  Visitation will be held at the church, on Saturday, from 1:00-3:00 P.M. prior to the service. Memorials can be given to The New Knoxville Methodist Church (P.O. Box 119, New Knoxville, Ohio 45871), or The Midwest Mission (1001 Mission Drive, Pawnee, IL 62558). Arrangements are being handled by Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and online condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.