David Samuel Klein

David Samuel Klein of Wellington, Kansas passed away in Wichita, Kansas on Wednesday, December 31st, 2025, at the age of 79.
David was born in Wellington, Kansas to Ruben F. Klein and Dorothy M. Klein (Gaddie) on July 1, 1946. He graduated from Wellington High School in 1964. Following his graduation, David attended Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas and also worked for Plessey-Welco in Wellington.
David later enlisted in the United States Navy on January 12th, 1966, and shortly after, married his beautiful bride, Georgia 'Emma' Edgar on April 17, 1966, to begin their 56 year-long marriage. He served as an Aircraft System Organizational Maintenance Technician on F4 aircraft in the Navy until December 22, 1969. This assignment took David and Emma to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was also deployed at sea on the USS John F. Kennedy.
After his initial 4-year Navy enlistment was completed, David attended the Wichita Technical Institute (WTI) for Electronics and graduated on May 31, 1974. Notes from school records identified him as a hard worker as well as one who was competent and dependable. David went on to start a TV and electronics repair business in Wellington, KS. On September 12, 1972, and December 21, 1975, respectively, he and his wife Emma welcomed their two sons.
David re-enlisted in the Navy on August 16, 1976, and served his country until September 30, 1992, when he retired honorably as Chief Petty Officer – EWC (SW). He specialized as an Electronic Warfare Systems Technician and Surface Warfare Technician. He was proud of the work he did, and he was Proud to Serve his country.
David's numerous Navy assignments took he and his family to places like Pensacola, Florida; Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; San Diego, California; Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.
David served his country both by land and by sea as he was deployed at sea on the USS Juneau and later on the USS Preble (and other international NATO ships) when he was assigned to the Standing Naval Forces Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) on a yearlong North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Relations Tour that took him around the globe collaborating with the Navy's of other NATO Member countries. David also spent time as a Navy Recruiter and ultimately finished his Navy career as a Master Training Specialist in Electronic Warfare and completed 20 years of Navy service.
During his time of Navy service, David was recognized for his achievements with medals, awards and ribbons to include:
Good Conduct Medal (x5); Humanitarian Service Medal (x3); Navy Achievement Medal; Overseas Service Medal; Navy Recruiter Gold Wreath Award w. Gold Star; National Defense Service Medal w. Bronze Star; Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon w. Bronze Star; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w. Bronze Star and the Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon (Sharpshooter).
David was loved as a son, brother, husband, brother-in-law, father, uncle, father-in-law, grandfather and friend.
He was intelligent and hardworking and was a dedicated person to those he loved. Family and Country were very important to David. He was strong and he was stoic. He was a fierce protector and he was a provider. David was honest and funny and also quite ornery He was a very generous person, always gifting things or sharing his time and many talents with others. He worked hard in order to spoil his family. He had a very giving heart.
Together, he and his wife Emma vacationed to St. Thomas and St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands as well as to Hawaii, along with many other stops to theme parks, concerts and other family trips across the states.
David was a person of many interests. He was a very busy man who worked a lot but also had several hobbies. He enjoyed wood working, golfing, guns, target shooting, fishing, gardening and CB radios. He loved music and was a sports fan as he was an athlete in his youth and young adult life. He enjoyed watching college football, golf and professional boxing. David was the Kansas Golden Gloves State Champion in 1963.
David loved his grandchildren and was always one to sponsor their sporting activities and events activities through the years. He enjoyed seeing and hearing of their successes and was always proud of their accomplishments and proud of who they have each become today.
After retiring from the United States Navy in San Diego, David moved his family back to Wellington, Kansas where he again began working for Plessey-Welco until he was hired as a Facilities Machine Maintenance Electrician at the Boeing Airplane Company in Wichita, KS which was later sold and became Spirit Aerosystems.
David worked for Spirit Aerosystems until he retired for the second time on January 12, 2009. After retiring from Spirit Aerosystems, he spent his time with his wife Emma (until her passing on March 19, 2022) and with friends and family while continuing to enjoy his hobbies. David liked to learn and tackle new things, and once he mastered it, he was off to the next thing. Along with his hobbies, David did things like learning how to brew his own beer, restoring antique furniture, doing computer repairs, making music compilation CDs, constructing a shooting range and building garden planters. He was always working on a project, and sometimes, multiple projects.
Sadly, David recently fell ill and was hospitalized at Ascension Via Christi – St. Francis in Wichita, Kansas and later transitioned to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice until his passing on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
He will be deeply missed by his family and friends and all who love him. We rest assured that he has achieved perfect peace and now has a restored heavenly body.
David is survived by his children; Timothy Klein (Chelle) of Wellington, Kansas and Tye Klein (Toby) of Wichita, Kansas, grandchildren; Tyris Klein of Wichita, Kansas, Kailey Harris (Michael) of Billings, Montana, Karsen Eck (Zachary) of Wichita, Kansas, Kannon Klein of Wellington, Kansas and Kai Klein of Wellington, Kansas. David also leaves behind his sister; Laurel Schones (Jerry) of Arkansas City, Kansas and sister-in-law; Peggy Acker (Del) of Sheridan, Wyoming, brother-in-law; Kelley Edgar, nephew; Marshall Acker (Lexi) of Billings, Montana, niece; Lauren Acker of Sheridan, Wyoming and nieces; Amy Jaramillo (Todd) of Wichita, Kansas, Ivy McCray (Jason) of Detroit, Michigan.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Ruben and Dorothy Klein, wife; G. Emma Klein and niece; Emily Sparks (Justin).
A memorial service will be held at 10:30am on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Cornejo Funeral Home & Crematory at 1030 Mission Rd. in Wellington, Kansas. Pastor Justin Mohr of Central Community Church in Wichita, Kansas, will be officiating the service. Interment with military honors will follow at Sumner Memorial Gardens in Wellington, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given in David's honor to the American Legion Riders, Post 136, 410 S.E. Louis Blvd., Mulvane, KS 67110. ATTN: Chuck Vrana. Contributions can be mailed directly or left with the funeral home.
Share a memory, leave condolences, or sign his digital tribute wall by visiting www.cornejofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Cornejo Funeral Home & Crematory, Wellington, Kansas.