Major David Hewitt Toney, USAF Retired, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, passed away at Riverside Methodist Hospital on February 12, 2024. He was the only child of Hewitt Stanhope Toney and Mary Elizabeth Toney and was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1938.
David attended schools in Wilberforce and Cedarville, Ohio, where he graduated as Valedictorian his senior year in 1955 and earned a full academic scholarship to Ohio State University. Initially, David began studies in engineering, but then chose to enlist as an Airman in the USAF and served in Germany before returning to OSU where he earned a BS in Education majoring in French, German and Russian and earned his Private Pilot’s License. David then rejoined the USAF as a Second Lieutenant serving 25 years before retiring as a Major. During his military service, David earned a BS Cum Laude in Computer and Information Science at Troy State University in Alabama and a MA in Counseling at Ball State University in Indiana. During his military service, David served as a Training and Evaluation Program Manager, Chief of Intelligence Systems Configuration Management Division, Chief of Software Development Projects, Maintenance Programmer, and Instructor Researcher Supervisor. After retiring from the military, David earned his Commercial Drivers License and did long distance hauling in the USA and Canada as an owner operator.
David was a lifelong student of foreign languages. He played guitar, piano, and composed songs including his legacy song, “Chestnut Ridge.” He loved making you laugh by telling a joke, singing a song, or sharing a story, and was an avid OSU Buckeyes fan.
David is survived by his wife, Zella A. Toney, whom he married in 1992, and they enjoyed several overseas travel tours and spent their winters at Myrtle Beach, SC. Also surviving David is his son, William S. (Teresa) Buxton of Newark, OH, his daughter, Michelle E. Toney of Colorado, and his son, David M. Toney of Colorado. David adored his two rescue cats, Chessie and Mateo. He was predeceased by his parents.
David attended The Old Country Church at 10780 Millersburg Rd., Howard, Ohio.
A military graveside service will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 11:00 am at The Friendship Cemetery on New Delaware Rd., Mount Vernon, OH on with Pastor Dorse W. Davis officiating. If you wish to do so, memorial contributions can be made to The Old Country Church and left at the Snyder’s Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
The Snyder Funeral Homes are honored to serve the family of Major David Hewitt Toney.