David J. Gephart

David J. Gephart, 82, of Colley, Pa., died Dec. 11, 2011 at home in Colley, Pa., surrounded by family and friends.

He was born in Colley, Sullivan County, on Dec. 17, 1928, son of David and Twila Gephart. He attended the Colley rural one-room schoolhouse up to the seventh grade in 1939, when it closed. He completed his high school education at Dushore High School, graduating in May 1946. He continued his education at Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pa., and from 1946 to 1950 held various jobs: as a miner helper in the Pittston anthracite mines, as an able body seaman on the Great Lakes and as a chainman on a route survey team for the layout of the New Jersey Turnpike. With the start of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was selected to attend Officers'Candidate School, graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant Artillery and serving with the 1st Cavalry Division in Japan and Korea.

He was discharged from active duty in 1953 and continued his education at Pennsylvania State University, graduating as a civil engineer in 1956. He was then placed on military reserve status as a 1st Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers. Following graduation from Penn State, he was selected by the Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C., as a candidate in a three-year training program leading to placement in the administrative operation at the state highway level. This program was in conjunction with the start of the development and construction of the Eisenhower Interstate Highway Program, for which he monitored the construction of sections of Interstate 80 in the Bloomsburg, Pa., area. Following graduation from this training program, he was assigned overseas to the countries of Sudan in Africa and Iran in the Middle East for some five years, during which time he provided technical assistance on construction programs working with host government engineers under an U.S. Technical Assistance Agreement between the U.S. and the host government. In 1969 he transferred to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the U.S. Department of State. With USAID, he was assigned to various host countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. He was promoted in 1974 to Regional Chief Engineer for the USAID East African operations. He and his assigned staff monitored activities related to U.S. interests in 12 African countries. He retired from USAID in 1981 at Kathmandu, Nepal. He then worked as a consultant for USAID until 1996, taking assignments in some 10 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Following retirement he and his wife, Carolee, traveled extensively in the U.S. and Canada, spending the winter season in Florida and the balance of the year in Colley, in sight of the home where he was born.

Dave is survived by his wife, Carolee Collins of Tuscaloosa, Ala., to whom he was married in 1954; and his children, Glenda (William) Phoenix of Watkins Glen, N.Y., and two grandsons, Travis and Nicholas; David Gephart III of Colley, Pa., Laura (Peter Chilson) Gephart of Portland, Ore., and Barbara (Michael) McGarvey of Warrington, Pa.; and one granddaughter, Devon. He also is survived by his sister, Mary Lou (Henry) Minnier of Colley, Pa.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Wilmot, and American Legion Post 996 of Dushore. He was a past member of the F&AM Lodge 618 of Wyalusing.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no viewing. A memorial gravesite service — including an honor guard ceremony by the American Legion Post 996, will be held at a later date. Arrangements will be by the McHenry Funeral Home.