WILMINGTON — David Albert Stetler was born on June 17, 1935 to John Samuel Stetler and Florence Condit Stetler in Pasadena, CA.
Dave attended Catholic schools in Pasadena thru Junior High, and served in the U.S. Navy Reserves after graduating from public high school. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Invertebrate Biology from the University of Southern California, where he was mentored by Professor Joseph Sacher.
David was married to the love of his life, Paula Yvonne Finch, in 1965 and was granted his Ph.D. in Botany from the University of California, Berkeley in 1967.
He began his teaching career at the University of Minnesota, taught Cell Biology at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, and was both an active faculty member and administrator at Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, VA for 25 years. He retired as Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Virginia Tech.
In retirement, he and Paula moved to Oakland, California where they re-connected with friends and family from previous years. When grandchildren arrived, they moved to Wilmington, NC to be near son Tom Stetler and his wife Lisa and grandchildren David and Olivia. He enjoyed grilling for his family, puttering in his workshop, fishing, trap shooting, and reading. He passed away quietly at home at the age of 88 years, under the loving care of his wife and family, and with the support of Hospice.
David is survived by his wife, Paula Finch Stetler; son Thomas Lowell Stetler and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Quinn Stetler; grandchildren David Quinn Stetler and Olivia Pennington Stetler; sister-in-law and husband Patricia and Greg Cox, nephew and niece Jeffrey and Karen Cox, of Minnesota; nephews and nieces Therese Zent Wilson, Christopher Zent (Kim), Joan Zent Durrett (Steve), and Linda Zent of Bakersfield, CA, as well as numerous grand-nephews and nieces.
David was preceded in death by his parents John Samuel Stetler and Florence Condit Stetler; son Daniel Victor Stetler; sister Jacqueline Stetler Zent and brother-in-law David Zent; niece Denise Wilkins, nephews David and Michael Zent; in-laws Lowell Craig Finch and Alice Poncet Finch.
The family would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Jeffrey Todd Kornegay and Dr. Edgar Kirby IV for their exceptional professional care over the years.
A Funeral Mass will be held at noon on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, St. Mark Catholic Church, 1013 Eastwood Rd., Wilmington, NC, offered by Pastor Gregory Spencer. A reception will follow in the Church Hall.
Donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to the Daniel Victor Stetler Memorial Scholarship, VA Tech Office of Development, 902 Prices Fork Rd., Blacksburg, VA 24061.
