Mr. David E. Weaver

David Eugene Weaver passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 19th , 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 53 years old, and was preceded in death by his mother, Charlotte Weaver [Bates]. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Cherese, his daughters Rachel, 25, and Anna, 18, as well as his two brothers, James Daniel and John Paul, his father, Ordis, and his stepmother, Myrtle. David was born in Bellevue, Ohio on November 20th, 1956. He was a gifted child from the beginning of his life, both an artist and musician. When he was 17 years old he met his wife, Cherese, at Margaretta High School. They were married on April 16th, 1976. David joined the United States Air Force and the newlyweds moved to Texas where he trained as an air traffic controller. He began working at the Travis County Sherriff’s Department in Austin, TX, after receiving an honorable discharge from his military service. David started his career in law enforcement as a dispatcher, but it was in forensic science art, crime scene investigation, and fingerprint identification that he found his true calling. During this time David also continued his artistic pursuits, painting, learning ceramics, and performing in many bands as a drummer and singer. He continued to play and write music with his family for the rest of his life. In 1986 David moved to Alaska and furthered his career by working at the Alaska State Crime Lab. In Anchorage David expanded his work in fingerprint identification and crime scene investigation. He was an inventor, and developed numerous patents, including the Vapor Wand— a cutting-edge technology that pioneered a completely new means of fingerprint recovery. He was bestowed with the 1992 Outstanding Civilian of the Year Award for his dedication to the field of criminal justice in Alaska. Despite his success in the field of forensic science, David had always dreamt of leaving the field to pursue art full-time. At the peak of his career, David left Alaska and moved to West Virginia to make this dream a reality. He opened an art gallery and pottery studio, and for 13 years he worked as an artist. David was a potter, as well as a painter in the style of the Dutch old masters, and he welcomed numerous apprentices into his home. He also taught painting workshops and gave private painting lessons around the country. His works can still be viewed on www.flemishrealism.com. During his time as an artist, David continued his fingerprint research and training. He was honored at the White House for his advancement of forensic science in 1994, and was featured by CNN and the Discovery Channel. He formed Weaver Forensic Services and began to process casework in a lab that he built behind his painting studio. In 2006 he began teaching at Mountain State University in Beckley, WV, where he was awarded many federal research grants, and greatly impacted the lives of students, staff, and faculty alike. He taught classes ranging from Forensic Photography to Homicide Investigation, founded the Fayette County Evidence Center in Mount Hope, WV, and was awarded numerous national grants for his research and ongoing patent development. He traveled around the country for important cases and, up until the day he died, continued to work on the cutting edge of fingerprint identification technology. His forensic science website is www.executiveforensics.com. David Weaver was truly a Renaissance man. He was driven, alive with ideas, and his creativity, unwavering focus, and dedication to his work is reflected in the quality of his art, his forensic science success, the numerous inventions he patented, and the many students of art and forensics who continue his legacy. He was a true outdoorsman, enjoyed camping, hiking, hunting, and horseback riding, and his passion for the environment is reflected in his patents in sustainable energy design. He was a visionary; he noticed nuances in the world around him that others did not immediately see—from the way light moved and changed across a landscape, to the tiniest textures of a fingerprint. He was generous and inspired, an effortless teacher, played a vital role in his local community, and was a beloved member of Fayetteville Presbyterian Church. David was a devoted father and deeply loved his wife and children. He will be missed more than words can say. Contributions can be made to the David Weaver Memorial Trust through United National Bank to further the education of his daughters. A memorial service will be held at Fayetteville Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, WV on Saturday, September 25th. Visitation with the family will be held from 12 – 2 PM, with the service starting at 2. Online condolences to the family can be made at www.dodpaynehessfuneralhome.com.