David Fenton

Fenton, David H. 8/16/2022 David Hoffman Fenton of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away on August 16th, 2022, at the age of 88. For the last several days of his life, his wife and children were present to surround him with love, laughter, and music. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford L. and Marian B. Fenton of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania and Stone Harbor, New Jersey, as well as his brother Robert L. Fenton of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jeanne Klemeyer Fenton, and his four children: Ellen Carley (Dan), Jane Kreider (Steve), Sarah Fenton (Randy Rake), and John Fenton (Kim). In addition, Dave and Jeanne were blessed with eight grandchildren: Ryan Carley, Lauren Carley Abel (Graham), Paul Kreider (Diane), John Kreider, Joe Kreider (Willow), Sarah Kreider, Alyson Rake, and Meghan Rake; and ten great-grandchildren. Dave was born in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, graduating from Camp Hill High School in 1951, where he played varsity baseball, and was in the National Honor Society. He graduated from Lehigh University in 1955 with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta, proudly serving as President. He completed the Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business Executive Program at the University of Virginia in 1980. After graduating college, he served in the U.S. Navy for two years in a flying squadron, VA(AW)-33 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After the military, Dave's career took him and his family throughout the United States working for companies in aluminum, helicopters, carbide, robotics, platinum group metals, and manufacturing. The family lived in New Jersey, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Michigan, and Rhode Island, where he owned his own company before retiring and returning back to Michigan. He was a lifetime member of both the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and the American Society for Metals, the latter since 1953, where he served as a member of the Executive Committees in Kentucky, Virginia, Illinois, and Texas. He was also a member of the Society of Carbide and Tool Engineers. After "retirement," he volunteered with SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives) and the Small Business Association of Michigan. He enjoyed coming out of retirement to work with Forensic Fluids well into his 80s, after initially serving as a consultant prior to the company's founding. Big Band jazz (a love of music he picked up from his brother) and M&Ms were two of Dave's favorite pastimes. Some of our family's best memories are from summer vacations in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. He was active in the Presbyterian church, serving as an usher and on "Wally's Crew" at First Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo. He served on the board of the American Lung Association of Michigan. He was also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan! He requested that his body be donated to Western Michigan University School of Medicine. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the WMU Body Donation Program Fund: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/wbdp/. A memorial service will be at a later date for immediate family.