David Julius Etzold

David Julius Etzold, age 86 of Burnsville, NC, died peacefully on November 6, 2012 in Burnsville. He was born and raised in Gulfport and was a 1943 graduate of Gulfport High School. He was an Eagle Scout and a U.S. Navy WWII Veteran, serving in the Pacific. He attended Perkinston Jr. College, and earned Bachelor and Doctoral Degrees at Mississippi State University. He was a Registered Medical Technologist, Radar Equipment Instructor, Electronics Engineer in the Aerospace Industry, University Professor and Management Planning Consultant. He had over 25 technical articles published and was a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Member. He was a Mississippi Sea Grant Principal Investigator and traveled extensively in the U.S. and Europe. He was active in Civic, Recreational and Educational functions while residing in Orlando, FL. When he retired, he and his wife, Edna moved to Pass Christian where he was a member of the Pass Christian Yacht Club and was a member of Pineville Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder. He was Chairman of the Harrison County World War II Memorial Restoration Commission. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home, he and his wife moved to Highland Farms Retirement Community in Black Mountain, NC He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Edna Stegall Etzold and his parents, Ernest Albert and Goldie Dutton Etzold. He is survived his four children, Paulina Etzold and husband Bruce Wachter of Burnsville, NC, Clair Etzold of Gulfport, David Etzold, Jr. and wife, Ann Jarven of Rockledge, FL and Susan Etzold and husband Robert Etzold of Anniston, AL. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jessica and Rachel Brommer and Amelia Kelly; Damon and Alexander Holston; Joseph and Michael Benson and 7 great-grandchildren. Services will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 2:00 pm at Pineville Presbyterian Church in Pass Christian. Friends may visit from 1:00 pm until service time. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be sent to the Palmer Home for Children, 912 11th Avenue S., Columbus, MS 39701 or to your local Hospice. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com